The flight attendants moved a Black woman from first class to the last row—then fell silent as she opened her wallet and said, “I am Dr. Simone Carter, FAA administrator.” But her title wasn’t what terrified the airline CEO most. It was the interview file she’d been called in to about thirty seconds earlier.
“You must gather your belongings and proceed to row thirty-seven.”
Dr. Simone Carter looked up from the technical report lying on her lap.
The flight attendant standing next to seat 3D wore a polite smile, but nothing in his expression was friendly.
His name tag read DEREK HOLT .
Simone glanced at the boarding pass on her phone.
Meridian Air Flight 622.
Washington Reagan in Atlanta.
First class.
3D seat.
Everything was fine.
“I’m sorry,” she said evenly. “Move where?”
“The rear cabin.”
« For what ? »
“There has been an adjustment to the premium seats.”
