Skirka, Adema, and the Bagram Air Field

John Skirka and John Adema had to charter a plane with a group of other aid workers and reporters from Tajikistan to Kabul in late 2001. The plane blew a tire on takeoff from the Dishanbi airport and was not replaced until late in the day. Among the passengers was a group of displaced Afghans frantic to get home who angrily demanded that we take off right away. It wasn't until several of us dragged Adema aside and impressed on him the seriousness of the situation that he finally conceded that maybe he didn't really know any codes or radio frequencies after all. We called the flight off and everyone lived for another day, as did Adema's flights of fantasy.