I was watching my CSI Las Vegas Season 1 DVDs and saw this episode again, Unfriendly Skies. What I liked about this episode is the sociology of it, how people interact with each other.
In this episode, a first class passenger, Tony Candlewell, has died while in flight. Physical evidence showed that fellow passengers on that airplane might have killed him.
When the first class passengers were interviewed, they said their lives were threatened when Candlewell was attempting to open the plane’s door. They acted in self-defense and stopped him. Candlewell was pushed on the ground and people started kicking him. Kiera Berhle, a surgeon, stopped them but was unable to resuscitate Candlewell.
Unknown to the first class passengers, Candlewell was suffering from “undiagnosed encephalitis” or the swelling of the brain. The altitude and the air pressure has caused tremendous pain to Candlewell. That was why he was acting like crazy and asking for the plane to land.
Eventually the Sheriff had to let all the first class passengers go. He felt the case wouldn’t hold up in court.
SHERIFF BRIAN MOBLEY: Let me get this straight. Five strangers get on a plane and then, together, they kill a man.
GRISSOM: On the surface, self-defense. They thought Candlewell was bringing the plane down.
SHERIFF BRIAN MOBLEY: And he would have.
GRISSOM: But he didn’t. They stopped him, and then they killed him — not as individuals, but as a mob.
SHERIFF BRIAN MOBLEY: Let’s cut to the chase, Gil. Can you prove your case?
GRISSOM: Not yet. I need more time.
SHERIFF BRIAN MOBLEY: Well, time’s up. I’m going to give these people their walking papers. If the Feds want to pursue it, let them.
GRISSOM: Don’t do that.
SHERIFF BRIAN MOBLEY: Oh, come on. No jury’s going to ever convict them.
GRISSOM: You don’t know that, Brian.
SHERIFF BRIAN MOBLEY: Look, if you or I were on that plane we would do whatever it takes to save our lives.
GRISSOM: That’s what a jury would say. That’s not what the evidence says.
SHERIFF BRIAN MOBLEY: That’s exactly my point.
Before the end of the episode, the CSI team discussed among themselves what they would have done if they were in the shoes of the passengers.
SARA: I don’t care what you say. I could never take a life.
WARRICK: If it was between him or me, I could. Nick?
NICK: I don’t know.
CATHERINE: Well… it’s wicked serious in here.
SARA: Yeah, well, we were just talking about murder and whether we would commit it. I couldn’t, Warrick could and Nick’s on the fence. We’re taking an exit poll.
NICK: Catherine, you’re a mother. You and Lindsey are on that plane. How far do you go?
CATHERINE: All the way.
SARA: (surprised) You didn’t even hesitate.
CATHERINE: That’s right. If it involves the protection of my child I fight to the death.
In the end, Grissom makes a statement.
If just one person had stopped and taken the time to look at the guy to listen to him, to figure out what was wrong with him it might not have happened. It took five people to kill him. It would have only taken one person to save his life.
If you were in this situation, would you be this one person?
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