At The Red Eye, we tell true stories from the skies and the ground. They’re funny, heartbreaking, and sometimes downright shocking - but today’s story is different. It isn’t just about a dramatic in-flight medical emergency. It’s about the emotional toll it left behind, and what happens when the strength we’ve relied on for so long suddenly cracks.
The crew member who donated this story, a seasoned flight attendant and cancer survivor, has weathered countless red-eyes. But when a passenger collapsed mid-flight on her London–Nigeria route, she found herself alone in the galley, protecting the cockpit, caring for an unwell passenger, and carrying the impossible weight of life-or-death decisions she wasn’t trained to make.
The real turbulence came later, alone in a hotel room far from home. For crew, the unspoken rule is simple: smile, stay composed, and leave your problems at the door. But the truth is that behind the uniform, flight attendants carry the same struggles as anyone else - grief, illness, financial stress, loneliness. And sometimes, the pause button we press during service can’t hold it all back.
This episode sheds light on the hidden mental health struggles faced by aviation professionals and reminds us that no one, no matter how strong, is immune to reaching their limit. It’s a story about resilience, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to finally say, “I’m not okay.”
Resources & Helplines
If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that support is available:
- U.S. — 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime, day or night
- UK — Samaritans: Dial 116 123 for free
- Australia — Lifeline: Dial 13 11 14
- India — AASRA: +91-98204 66726
- S
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Kaylie has written 6 other fictional novels about the lives of cabin crew!
The Red Eye Podcast is written by Kaylie Kay, and produced and narrated by Ally Murphy.
To subscribe to the monthly newsletter and keep up to date with news, visit www.theredeyepod.com. Or find us on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram @theredeyepod, for behind the scenes stories and those funny short stories that only take a minute or less!
If you'd like to support the podcast you can "buy us a beer" and subscribe at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310053/support, we'd be happy to give you a shout out on our newsletter!
Ally Murphy is a former flight attendant, and a British voice over artist based in the USA, visit www.allymurphy.co.uk
Kaylie Kay is a flight attendant and author based in the UK. You can find more of her work at www.kayliekaywrites.com
To buy The Red Eye's first book click on the following links:
Amazon UK
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