UAAG CH30

Fu Cheng turned his head away and ignored a certain man.

Zhuo Huan raised an eyebrow slightly, chewing gum and blowing a small bubble gently. His gaze lingered on the black-haired young man’s fine profile until Lawrence returned with several US Airways staff members.

Lawrence: “This is Mr. Patrick; you should have already met just now.”

The two US Airways staff nodded repeatedly: “We have already greeted Mr. Patrick just now.”

Lawrence continued to introduce: “This is UAAG member, Evan Fu. And this one I don’t need to introduce, Joseph. He was a captain for your US Airways back then.” Just as he was speaking, Lawrence noticed Lord Zhuo was chewing gum. The corner of his mouth twitched, and just as he was about to explain for him, Zhuo Huan spoke up himself: “Nicotine addiction.”

The two US Airways staff naturally had no objection to this: “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Everyone sat down one after another.

Lawrence: “The reason for calling you here again this time is because the wreckage of US Airways 4012 has been salvaged. The plane was just transported to the investigation headquarters today and hasn’t been cleaned yet. Currently, we want to learn more about the two pilots from you.”

The US Airways staff looked at each other: “Three months ago, our company already sent the pilot information to the NTSB.”

Lawrence nodded: “Yes, of course I know this; I personally received these two documents. But there are some specific circumstances we want to understand clearly before the investigation officially begins.”

“That’s certainly no problem.”

Lawrence smiled: “Then let’s split into two groups. You two, one is familiar with the captain, and one is familiar with the co-pilot. There happen to be four of us, so how about Mr. Patrick and I, and Joseph and Fu interview you separately?”

“Okay.”

Without delay, the four immediately split into groups to interview the two US Airways staff members.

However, before leaving the conference room, Zhuo Huan stopped: “Fu Cheng comes with me.”

Lawrence was stunned: “Okay, fine.”

Fu Cheng looked at Lord Zhuo in surprise, but Lord Zhuo had already stepped out of the conference room ahead of him to wait for the interview in the adjacent room.

This was a small conference room about ten square meters. From the distant harbor docks came the sharp and long whistles of ships. Outside the window, traffic was busy and voices were loud, but inside, separated by a window, it was silent as a grave.

This US Airways staff member was obviously nervous, or rather, after seeing Zhuo Huan, he had been feeling very uncomfortable.

Fu Cheng turned on the voice recorder, wanting to ease the atmosphere. However, Zhuo Huan casually pulled a tissue from the table, wrapped his gum in it, and threw it into the trash can. He sat up straight, elbows resting on his knees. In an instant, the originally unruly and disdainful aura shifted abruptly, and the atmosphere suddenly became solemn. He looked seriously at the US Airways staff member in front of him, his voice steady with a hint of gravity.

“How many years have you worked at US Airways, and what is your relationship with the captain?”

The US Airways staff member was stunned for a moment. Looking at Zhuo Huan’s solemn expression, he slowly got into the state.

“I’ve been with US Airways for 21 years…”

“US Airways 4012, Captain Kyle Shulman, 49 years old. Formerly a US Air Force pilot, transferred to civil aviation 9 years ago. Flight hours 13,911 hours, extensive experience piloting the Airbus A390.”

Bright incandescent lights illuminated the office of the investigation headquarters. Zhuo Huan stood in front of the whiteboard and pasted Captain Kyle’s photo on it.

He continued: “Co-pilot Tim Harrison, 26 years old, Airbus A390 flight hours 1,187 hours. Obviously, he is a novice.”

Everyone listened to him and cast their eyes on the young pilot on the whiteboard.

That was a young American man with a very standard American face. His yellowish-brown hair was slightly curly. Below his broad forehead was a pair of blue-green eyes. His eye sockets were deep, the bridge of his nose high, and his nose large. In this airline ID photo, he was not smiling, staring at the camera very seriously. But the laugh lines on his cheeks showed that he should be a cheerful person.

As for Captain Kyle beside him, he appeared much more serious. He was unsmiling, his silver hair neatly styled with pomade. His eyes were like a hawk’s, his lips thin and tightly pursed, very displeased. Even in a photo, he gave people immense pressure.

Lawrence continued after Zhuo Huan: “Both Kyle and Tim have flown the London to Boston route many times. According to the information provided by US Airways, Kyle has taken off from London and landed at Boston Logan Airport 87 times. Tim has slightly fewer; he has landed at Logan Airport 21 times. The two of them are absolutely familiar with the route.”

Fu Cheng said: “The US Airways staff member said Kyle and Tim have flown together three times. This was their third cooperation.”

Zhuo Huan glanced at Fu Cheng. He picked up a marker and wrote on the whiteboard—

Not much cooperation.

As everyone knows, pilots of large airlines do not only fly one route, such as from London to Boston; nor do they only fly the same plane. Before each flight, basically until the day of, they only know which plane they are going to fly and who the pilots and flight attendants flying with them are.

Everything is random.

However, generally speaking, because pilots will only fly one type of aircraft within a period of time, they still have opportunities to meet.

But three times, this number is definitely not much. This is an awkward number, neither high nor low: the two pilots definitely know each other, but certainly cannot be considered familiar.

Fu Cheng looked at the interview data he recorded and said: “Kyle is highly skilled and is also a famous excellent captain at US Airways. Last year he received the US Airways Honorary Captain Medal. The pilot who performed flight missions with him said: ‘Mr. Schulman is an extremely reassuring and excellent pilot. When he served in the US military, he had experience successfully completing missions many times. And at US Airways, his flight record has been consistently excellent enough to be admirable.'”

After finishing, Fu Cheng looked at Old Joseph.

Old Joseph opened the interview record: “Co-pilot Tim’s performance during training was very good. All his grades were excellent, only the low-altitude wind shear item was good. His friend said Tim himself is optimistic and cheerful, often participating in various company gatherings, and has many friends. He has always maintained a diligent learning attitude towards flying. Before the accident, he was preparing for the McFly F485 flight course; he wanted to change the aircraft model he flies.”

Fu Cheng said in surprise: “His Airbus A390 flight hours are only 1,187 hours, and he’s already preparing to change aircraft models?”

Old Joseph: “Fu, the McFly F485 is currently the most advanced civil airliner. Since its debut, many pilots have wanted to fly it.”

Su Fei muttered: “If you guys praise it any more, I feel RIP will be smug again.”

However, contrary to Su Fei’s expectation, although he was praised publicly again, there was no excited look on Lord Zhuo’s face. He seemed not to have heard it, making no comment on the matter.

His gaze lingered on the pilot information on the whiteboard for a long time. Zhuo Huan turned back and asked: “What is the situation with the plane wreckage.”

Lawrence immediately said: “Investigators are still cleaning. It has been buried underwater for four months, Patrick. Many places are inevitably rusted and corroded. In addition, the impact of ocean currents and the activities of seabed creatures have also left it covered in cuts and bruises. Undoubtedly, we salvaged more than half of the plane, but a small part disappeared in the vast sea.”

Zhuo Huan: “Has the black box been found?”

In the conference room, suddenly there was silence; no one dared to utter a sound.

Zhuo Huan slowly frowned.

A hand was raised.

Zhuo Huan looked at him.

Fu Cheng: “I just heard news about this matter. Teacher Zhuo, the black box is not in the salvaged plane wreckage. In fact, it has very likely… gone missing with the ocean currents.”

One day ago.

As an administrative staff member of UAAG, Lina approached the staff responsible for receiving the victims’ families and took over their work.

In an air crash accident, interviews with victims’ families are also crucial. Especially for this kind of plane that suddenly crashed in the ocean, many people’s first reaction is hijacking.

In 1996, an Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 suddenly encountered a hijacking while flying to Kenya. The crew communicated calmly and patiently with the hijackers. Unfortunately, no matter how the crew persuaded them that “the plane doesn’t have enough fuel to fly to where they want to go,” the three kidnappers didn’t understand or believe it.

In the end, this plane crashed into the Indian Ocean due to insufficient fuel.

After being busy all day, Lina just returned to the hotel when she saw a familiar person in the hotel lobby. She smiled and walked up, giving the person a hug: “Hi, Lawrence, shouldn’t you be at the investigation headquarters right now? Why are you back at the hotel so early?”

Lawrence smiled bitterly: “I came, of course, because there is something I want to ask for your help with.”

“Oh? You still have things you need my help with?”

“Actually, half a month ago, when the wreckage of US Airways 4012 was found in the sea, I immediately ordered a search for the black box first, asking divers to salvage the black box first. But we searched for a full two days and didn’t find the black box! And just this afternoon, I searched for a long time in the salvaged plane wreckage, and now I have finally confirmed… Lina, this plane’s black box is really missing.”

Lina was stunned: “So, you mean?”

Lawrence pleaded: “Go help me tell Patrick about this. Half a month ago, when I realized the black box might be missing, I discovered that this might be an extremely tricky case, a big trouble, so I approached Patrick. If this accident was purely due to mechanical reasons, weather reasons, or something, it might still be possible to find the truth without the black box. But if it involves human factors… then without the black box, it’s really as difficult as climbing to heaven, and might even become a cold case. Oh my God, Patrick will definitely be very angry. I don’t want to see his stinking face. You have the best relationship with him; help me tell him.”

Thinking of this, Lawrence’ scalp tingled: “This matter actually should have been told to Patrick beforehand, but I felt if I said it, he might not accept this big trouble. As a result of concealing it, it has been concealed until now…”

The black box is the most important key to an air crash accident. Like the victim’s body in a criminal case, the sample specimen in experimental research. The vast majority of air crashes in the world where the truth is not found are almost all because the black box was not found or the black box was damaged.

“You should have said it from the beginning, shouldn’t have hidden it until now.” Lina furrowed her fine brows. She pondered for a moment and smiled leisurely: “Actually, I have always been thinking, why do you always feel Reid has a bad temper? He is really very gentle. Perhaps if other things are kept from him, he will be angry. But this is an air crash; he will absolutely not joke about this matter. Of course, I will help you explain this matter to him, but it won’t be me going.”

“Mn? Not you going, then who will go?”

Lina smiled mysteriously: “There is a better candidate.”

At night, Fu Cheng just returned to the hotel room. Suddenly, his doorbell rang.

Opening the door, he saw the blonde lady in a long dress standing outside, smiling slightly at him: “Hi, Fu.”

Fu Cheng: “Lina, how did you know I was back?”

Lina smiled softly: “Because I am Lina. Are you free? I want to treat you to a cup of coffee, and by the way… ask you for a favor.”

From beginning to end, Fu Cheng didn’t think this was a big deal.

Everyone knew that from the moment NTSB invited UAAG to investigate this accident, all UAAG’s travel expenses and costs were borne by NTSB, US Airways, and Airbus. This was not a small figure. Of course, it certainly wasn’t that astronomical figure of 7 US dollars per second. But if it was just a simple accident, why would NTSB spend this money?

Not finding the black box was a difficult problem, but in Fu Cheng’s view, it might not be unsolvable.

He even found it a bit strange: “Why doesn’t Mr. Lawrence go tell Teacher Zhuo personally?”

Lina’s eyes flashed; she turned her head and smiled: “Right, you also think Reid isn’t that kind of person. Why doesn’t he tell Reid himself?”

…Mn?

Sensing the hidden meaning in the other’s words, Fu Cheng fell silent, not quite understanding Lina’s meaningful gaze, so he lowered his head and took a sip of coffee.

Lina: “Fu, I’m not Chinese. sometimes I don’t quite understand some of your Chinese sayings. If someone tells you that from now on you have no chance, what do you think he implies?”

Fu Cheng was confused. Looking at Lina’s smiling eyes, he thought for a moment and laughed: “You seem to be in a very good mood, Lina.”

Lina: “Yes, I have always cared about friends and cherished every one of my friends, so now I am in a very good mood.”

Fu Cheng waved to call the waiter: “Did you serve the wrong coffee to this beautiful lady? She seems drunk.”

The waiter was instantly dumbfounded.

Lina didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Your cold jokes and Reid’s are really neck and neck.”

Fu Cheng thought to himself: I think I’m quite humorous.

Fu Cheng: “Teacher Zhuo’s jokes have always been quite funny.” So mine are also very funny.

Lina made no comment and smiled: “Then I’ll leave this matter to you, Fu. Please go tell Reid.”

The two chatted for a while longer, paid the bill, and went upstairs.

Before entering the elevator, Lina: “By the way, what I meant just now was, if someone tells you ‘you have no chance in the future,’ then what he really wants to say is, before he said this, he always felt you had a chance…” Winking playfully, Lina walked into the elevator: “This is just my personal understanding. Perhaps even the person who said this didn’t realize that deep down he thought this way.”

Fu Cheng’s lips parted, but he didn’t know what to say.

…So this matter has something to do with him?

Lina: “I got a master’s degree in psychology from Yale.”

Fu Cheng understood this sentence: “So you are very confident that he really thinks this way?”

Lina smiled and put her index finger to her lips: “Shh.”

After a simple summary report of accident data, NTSB investigators continued to clean the plane wreckage corroded by seawater. Fu Cheng was planning to contact the air traffic controller responsible for US Airways 4012 on that day to understand some situations from him. Before he could go out, a figure blocked his way.

Fu Cheng raised his head.

“Teacher Zhuo?”

Beside the conference room door frame, Zhuo Huan crossed his arms, eyes slightly lowered, looking at Fu Cheng. After a long time, the corners of his mouth hooked up, and he scoffed: “Are you a fool?”

Fu Cheng: “…???”

“Did they give you benefits, just speaking for them like that.”

“…”

“Tch.”

Fu Cheng: “…”

How did this person live to be this old without being beaten to death?!

Author’s Note:

Zhuo Rest-in-Peace: Today also happily jumping back and forth on the edge of the minefield~ yeah~
Fu Chengcheng: …………You have no chance in this lifetime!

By the way, regarding the Ethiopian Airlines example in this chapter, the captain was miserable. He had been hijacked three times in his life. Yes, three times. Then the first two times were completely OK; the third time was this one.

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