It was the late 1980s, and we were flying an Air Lanka L-1011 TriStar from Dubai to London. In those days the London flights left Dubai early in the morning. Because of the USA’S Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft flying in the Bahrain Flight Information Region (FIR), we were cleared to a relatively lower altitude of 28,000ft in the Persian Gulf area. It was only when changing over to Kuwait FIR that a higher level could be requested.

This morning’s flight to London was no different to any other. Dawn was breaking over the Gulf and our passage was smooth. Just before we reached the Bahrain/Kuwait border, the Chief Stewardess entered the flightdeck to mention that a schoolmate of mine was onboard, and asked for permission to bring him up to have a look at the cockpit. Nothing much was happening, so I gave her the OK.This was in the pre 9/11 days and Air Lanka being a friendly airline all visitors to the flightdeck were welcome.

After Ravi, my former schoolmate and I exchanged a few pleasantries, we were catching up with the progress of our relative careers. Because our flight’s radio communications were now with Kuwait, my First Officer (co-pilot) proceeded to request a higher altitude from Kuwait Air Traffic Control (ATC). Kuwait then cleared us to an altitude of 35,000ft. While commencing the climb, the subject of conversation between my friend and I strayed to his neighbourhood at Moratuwa, and he mentioned that another pilot, Capt. Elmo Jayawardene, lived close to his home in Dharmaratna Avenue. Elmo had by then left Air Lanka to live in Singapore and fly for Singapore Airlines.

Our old Lockheed TriStar habitually did not climb well after 29,000ft. It could only do about 200ft per minute at heavy weights. We were now attempting to climb to 35,000ft and struggling along. At this point Kuwait ATC called and urged us to expedite our climb through 33,000ft as there was an aircraft on a reciprocal (opposite) heading at 33,000ft. We told them that we were doing our best to clear that altitude as quickly as possible. About a minute after we passed through 33,000ft, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 747 passed barely 200ft below us.

Suddenly an unmistakable voice came through the air (we were operating on the same radio frequency), asking: "Who is that?"

I replied cautiously, "Who wants to know?"

The voice answered: "Elmo here."

By now I had the cockpit overhead speakers switched on, so Elmo’s friend and neighbour marvelled at the happy coincidence which had us crossing each other at over 1,000 miles per hour, so far away from home, in Kuwaiti air space.

Surely, this must be a chance in a million?