Fridge / Panic In The Skies

Fridge Logic

• Laurie faking Brett's death. There was an extra passenger riding in the cockpit with the flight crew, known as a jump seater. He is killed along with the two pilots and flight engineer when the plane is struck by lightning. When the plane finally lands, the FBI are there to apprehend Brett and ask Laurie if she recognizes a picture of him. She tells them yes, that he was seated upstairs in business class when the lightning hit, and that "there are four bodies in the upstairs galley; one of them must be him". This gives Brett time to slip away. The problem that arises is that the jump seat passenger would absolutely be on the passenger manifest, and it wouldn't take long for Laurie's story to fall apart. While she technically didn't lie and could have just recognized him while assuming he was the fourth victim of the lightning strike, surely the FBI and/or NTSB would be interviewing the flight crew and passengers. At least one of them would be bound to mention the head flight attendant and passenger who were working together to land the plane. It's also likely the other passengers/crew would be shown Brett's photo and recognize him as the passenger working with Laurie.