This reminds me of.....
The time I was in a VC10 at max AUW climbing out of BZN at full chat, when 4 RR conways went deadly quiet and we levelled (at 3,000ft I later learnt) rapidly. I remember the deadly hush and quizical looks around the cabin
30 secs later power up and we were on our way to have the same thing happen not less than a minute later...
What was it? Normal aviation - a busy airway we could not get into or across and a stop climb from Brize radar whilst they tried to get someone from London to accept us!!
Sets the nerve ends a jangling though I grant you.