Cold Hands
Philip wondered if he should enter the plane alone because there was no safe way to get inside. If he got hurt, no one would know where he was or that he was missing. Plus, the temperature was dropping, so he decided to get help.
Cold Hands
Calling His Colleagues
Philip couldn’t research this by himself, so he used a flare gun to signal his colleagues. They flew immediately to him by helicopter. In fact, no one had ever seen something like that, and they all wanted to get inside the airplane.
Calling His Colleagues
Inside the Plane
Philip was the first to go into the plane, and his mouth dropped in awe. How could no one have known about this? Everyone else piled in, and they stared in disbelief. In fact, they felt they’d be famous!
Inside the Plane
The Anonymous Letter
Soon, the answers would be revealed! Philip finally remembered that he’d gotten an anonymous letter a few days ago. Then, he was called to the station without notice, and he was now standing in this plane!
The Anonymous Letter
A New Project
Someone knew he’d be interested in this project, and he hadn’t felt so motivated in a long time. In fact, he was intrigued by many aspects and wondered why the letter sender had chosen him. How had they gotten his address?
A New Project
A Deserted Town
A few days after getting the letter, he arrived in town. It was empty and old, but there was a supermarket. Still, the streets were always deserted. Philip began knocking on all the doors to ask people about a particular legend, but they weren’t friendly.
A Deserted Town
Old Horse
He’d knocked on all but one door when he noticed a man on the street. He ran toward him, asking if he could discuss the urban legend. Though he hesitated, the man told him to visit the Old Horse in one hour. Philip naturally agreed.
Old Horse
A Cafe
Old Horse was a small cafe right in the center of town. As Philip entered, he saw the man sitting at a nearby table. He sat across from the old man, putting his notebook beside him. After a long period, the man began talking.
A Cafe
The Urban Legend
The man said the legend focused on a plane that was meant to fly to Japan. It had “66” on it, and no one knew what it carried or who was on it. Immediately upon takeoff, it went off the radar. Though there was talk of a storm, scientists have debunked that, and no one knows what happened.
The Urban Legend
The Route
Though Philip asked questions, the man left. Now, Philip had to search for the plane, though the first step was to determine its route and follow it. How would he do that? Finally, he came up with an idea.
The Route
Alaskan Airport
He decided that the airport employees should know about the plane’s disappearance, so he began his search there. However, no one knew anything about airplane 66. This wouldn’t be as easy as he’d thought!
Alaskan Airport
Note on the Door
When Philip got back from the airport, he noticed a note attached to the door. There was no stamp or name on it, so he wondered who had put it there. Removing it, he went inside to the kitchen table to read it.
Note on the Door
One Sentence
Philip opened the letter and recognized the handwriting instantly. This person had sent the anonymous letter before. Now, there was a single sentence, and the man re-read it multiple times to absorb what it said.
One Sentence
Many Questions
The note told him to go to the right side of town, walking the mountain path to find Theo. Who kept sending him letters, and who could Theo be? Still, he knew what he had to do and got to it!
Many Questions
No Trespassing
After packing his bags, he headed to the mountain path. However, there was a no trespassing sign posted clearly. That didn’t scare him, so he began walking, though it was difficult because of the frozen puddles and loose stones.
No Trespassing
A Small Cottage
Philip noticed a small cottage in the distance, so he thought that was where Theo lived. He knew a storm was heading their way, so he walked a bit faster, reaching the homestead just in time. However, he didn’t expect his welcome.
A Small Cottage
Banging on the Door
When he knocked on the door, no one answered. They weren’t home, and the wind was picking up now. He had to get inside, or he would end up freezing to death in the snowstorm.
Banging on the Door
An Old Man’s Silhouette
Just as he was about to do something crazy, the door opened. Philip was standing face-to-face with a man’s silhouette, and he asked if it was Theo. Without saying a word, he stepped aside so that Philip could come in.
An Old Man’s Silhouette
Note on the Bed
The man pointed to the bed, and Philip saw another note. It felt like he was on a scavenger hunt, and he was getting a little upset. The person knew about the plane, so they should just check it out for themselves!
Note on the Bed
Walking the Coordinates
There were coordinates on the note, and Philip knew how to read them. Therefore, he walked until his legs were sore and had just about reached the top of the mountain. However, he didn’t see a plane. Maybe the note writer was playing a game.
Walking the Coordinates
Something Unnatural
As he looked to the left, he saw something coming out of the mountain, but it wasn’t natural. Therefore, he squinted his eyes to see a wing of a plane. This had to be it, but it was still about a day’s walk from where he was.
Something Unnatural
Going Off-Road
There was no path to the plane, so Philip had to leave the trail to get to it. Overall, the snow was deeper here, and he couldn’t tell what was beneath him. He shuffled his feet, though it was now getting dark.
Going Off-Road
Setting Up Camp
The sun was setting, but Philip was about halfway there. Therefore, he found a flat spot and set up a tent, though he had to work quickly. Just as he got inside, the wind picked up. He curled up in his sleeping bag, trying to get warm.
Setting Up Camp
Frozen Hands
When he woke up the next day, there were bits of ice in his beard, and his hands were freezing. However, the sun was in full bloom, so he warmed up after a while. Then, he packed and continued up the mountain.
Frozen Hands
Greg and Lincoln
He knew he couldn’t do this alone, so he mapped out the place and headed back to Theo’s cabin to call his researcher friends. They hadn’t heard he was in Alaska, but they immediately said yes when he asked them to come because they wanted to know!
Greg and Lincoln
Seeing the Plane
Greg and Lincoln got to Alaska in three days, and they all went to Theo’s cabin to drop off what equipment they didn’t need. Philip led the way, and his friends had to follow blindly. They were shocked to see the airplane!
Seeing the Plane
Digging Out
They dug the plane out of the snow, shocked that it was intact after the crash. One back tail and side wing were gone. Still, there were no holes, so they had to figure out how to get inside.
Digging Out
Taped Shut
Philip checked the windows to see what was inside, but they had been taped with black tape. Clearly, something very important was in there for someone to do that, and he was right!
Taped Shut
Something Stuck Out
Lincoln said they should drill a hole in the door to get inside. However, Philip was drawn to something that was sticking from the plane’s tail. The little orange device looked normal, and he soon realized what it was!
Something Stuck Out
No Memory Card in the Black Box
This was the black box for the plane, which would explain why it had crashed. However, the memory card was gone. The slot was empty, and that confused the men. Had someone removed it, or was it never put there?
No Memory Card in the Black Box
Remembering Something
Suddenly, Philip remembered the anonymous letters. Had that person removed the memory card? Were they using him to open the plane to get what was inside? He told himself to stop with the conspiracy theories, but it was still in the back of his mind.
Remembering Something
Telling the Others
Philip hadn’t told Greg and Lincoln about those anonymous letters, but he didn’t want to until they asked. They wondered how he’d learned about the plane and why the authorities weren’t called. Finally, he explained.
Telling the Others
Getting Scared
They were scared when they learned what was happening and wanted to leave. However, Philip reminded them about the adventure they were on. What could happen? Later, he wished he’d listened to them.
Getting Scared
Continuing the Search
Philip finally convinced them to stay, so they began drilling into the plane the following morning. It was more work than they’d anticipated, but they made it through. Still, it wasn’t big enough for any of the men.
Continuing the Search
The Sunlight Glistens
Eventually, they made it in and saw crates everywhere. However, something in the corner glistened in the sunshine. He picked it up and saw it was like a flattened bullet. The other men were stunned and couldn’t speak!
The Sunlight Glistens
An Empty Cockpit
After checking out the bullet, they went to the cockpit. They expected to see horrible things when they opened the door, but it was unexplainable. In fact, the cockpit was empty. Had there been anyone in the plane to fly it?
An Empty Cockpit
Looking Inside Crates
Philip looked inside the cockpit, but Greg went to the cottage to get a crowbar for the crates. He couldn’t believe what he saw! In fact, he called for the others to unload everything, but Lincoln was gone!
Looking Inside Crates
The Police
Lincoln came in a few moments after they heard the helicopter and said the police were on their way. Now, they heard sirens and snowmobiles. He grabbed the anonymous letters, and they all came out of the plane with their hands up.
The Police
Questioned By the Cops
The three men went to the police station for questioning. Philip finally showed the cops the letters he’d received, and they wanted to know why he hadn’t told them. However, he explained about his research and the need for independent discovery.
Questioned By the Cops
The Anonymous Writer
Overall, the three men helped with the case, receiving an honorary medal for discovering the plane. However, they wanted to know who the anonymous letter writer was. In the end, the pals headed home and wrote a book. No one ever figured out who the writer was.
The Anonymous Writer