UAAG CH40

There is not only Rogue 318 as an example of an air crash without a conclusion.

In 2014, MH370 mysteriously disappeared over the Indian Ocean. Until four years later, no complete aircraft wreckage was recovered. The official announced that salvage would no longer be carried out, and the investigation was suspended. But even though no useful aircraft wreckage was recovered at all, the investigation team conducted a four-year investigation and published two investigation reports.

One was an interim investigation report released in 2015, 584 pages long.

One was the final investigation report released in 2018, 822 pages long.

After Rogue 318 announced the suspension of the investigation, Fu Cheng had wondered why the investigation team had not published any investigation report for a full three and a half years. Now, he finally knew.

“You’ve been suppressing it and haven’t published the investigation report?”

A slow, warm breath came from Zhuo Huan’s nasal cavity: “Mm.”

Fu Cheng was silent for a long time.

“Why?”

Zhuo Huan raised an eyebrow: “Why?”

Fu Cheng’s voice was quiet: “Yes, why.”

“Do you know what result they wanted to publish?”

Fu Cheng looked up at him.

“Rogue 318 is different from MH370, or rather, it’s more like the Air France 447 accident: the most advanced aircraft at the time, never had any air crash errors; disappeared suddenly over the ocean without any warning signs; the plane was very new, with no special maintenance records.” Pausing, Zhuo Huan looked down at Fu Cheng, “Before the black box of Air France was salvaged, everyone guessed various possible reasons. But what was the final result?”

Fu Cheng: “The two pilots made a coordination error and piloting mistake. This was the main reason.”

The Air France 447 crash, known in the industry as the famous “Bonin stick pulling”, is on par with the previously mentioned “Richard Dive”, and is also passed down by amateurs as a joke and mockery.

The fuse was a small mechanical failure of the pitot tube. Logically speaking, this was just a minor failure that other planes had also experienced. But because the experienced captain was on a rotation break at the time, two young co-pilots were in charge of flying the plane. The two panicked immediately, thinking the plane stalled suddenly, and made wrong operations, causing the plane to really start descending rapidly.

Under such circumstances, Co-pilot Bonin began to pull the stick frantically.

Pulling the stick means pulling the nose of the plane up into a climb attitude.

But at this moment, for a stalled plane, what it needs is not to climb up, but to dive down. Only by letting the nose of the plane dive down, according to aerodynamic principles, can this plane gain thrust to fly again.

The two panicked men, one shouted “push the stick”, while the other pulled the stick hard.

The experienced captain rushed to the cockpit, wanting to save the plane. But even he didn’t know what exactly happened. Why couldn’t a plane without failure take off no matter how much the stick was pushed. Until the last moment, Co-pilot Bonin shouted: “I’ve been pulling the stick, why can’t it fly up!”

Only then did the captain and another pilot realize what stupid thing their colleague had done in his panic!

This is like driving a car, you want to turn right, but turn the steering wheel frantically to the left.

This is a mistake that even flight school students wouldn’t make, but a real airline pilot made it.

So after salvaging the black box of this plane, the truth of this accident was unbelievable to everyone. All previous guesses were overturned, like jokes, wasted. The reason was so simple it was almost ridiculous.

“Guesses are just guesses after all. No one knows what the truth is.” In the cold wind, Zhuo Huan tilted his head slightly, and a slightly long strand of hair fell on his forehead. Those always calm black eyes scanned Fu Cheng lightly, his voice quiet: “Rogue 318, do you know what kind of investigation report NTSB wanted to publish?”

Fu Cheng: “What?”

Zhuo Huan: “First possibility, captain suicide; second possibility, plane ran out of fuel and crashed into the sea…”

“If it were you, which one do you think the media and the public would prefer to see?”

Fu Cheng was stunned and speechless.

Taking his hand out of his pocket, Zhuo Huan stubbed out the burnt cigarette butt on the concrete wall and casually threw it into the trash can nearby. He turned and walked away. Behind him, in the wind, a hurried voice suddenly came: “Is this the reason you didn’t let the investigation report be published, Teacher Zhuo?”

Zhuo Huan stopped, turned his head, and looked at Fu Cheng with a look for the mentally retarded—

I’ve fucking said this much, do you still need to ask?

Suddenly beginning to doubt his subordinate’s IQ, Zhuo Huan sneered, about to say something contemptuous and mocking, but the cold wind of the winter night blew, and he shivered. To maintain his demeanor, he quickly closed his chattering teeth and walked away again.

However, just as he was about to take a step.

“Zhuo Huan.” Fu Cheng said loudly.

The man slowly turned around.

Wearing a white down jacket, separated by a wall from the flowing Boston seaside street. Fu Cheng put his hands in his pockets, looked at Zhuo Huan steadily, and said in a serious, solemn, and calm voice: “Then salvaging the black box of Rogue 318 at your own expense…”

“What is the reason for that?”

The air was suffocatingly quiet for a moment.

The wind blowing from the sea surface suddenly stagnated, and the sound of waves hitting the beach not far away seemed separated by a water curtain, quiet and secret.

After a long time.

Zhuo Huan: “Fuck, Lina even told you this?”

Investigation Headquarters, UAAG Office.

Lina was concentrating on writing the press conference draft when the table was knocked hard. She looked up and smiled: “Reid? Hmm, you don’t look very well. What, still angry?”

Zhuo Huan snorted coldly: “Did you tell them about me salvaging the black box?”

Lina was stunned: “No.” She thought for a moment, then saw Fu Cheng following behind Zhuo Huan, coming down from the rooftop stairs. She immediately understood what happened and smiled slightly: “I am a person who respects friends’ privacy. It really breaks my heart, Reid, that you don’t trust my character. Obviously, I didn’t say this. But this matter is not a secret, Reid. You spent so much money to salvage the black box with great fanfare. Do you think there are many people in the industry who don’t know?”

Zhuo Huan: “…”

Lina said sincerely: “It’s not a bad thing, although you became penniless because of it. But this also illustrates a problem, Reid, our colleagues care about you very much. Aren’t you happy?”

Zhuo Huan: “…”

After Zhuo Huan left with a sneer, Fu Cheng came to Lina’s desk: “Why is Teacher Zhuo so angry about this matter?”

Fu Cheng was quite puzzled. When he pointed this out, Zhuo Huan was obviously very angry, even angrier than when arguing with Lawrence.

Lina spread her hands: “I don’t understand either. Maybe it’s a man’s strange self-esteem? Or maybe, doing good deeds without wanting people to know, and then getting angry out of shame after being exposed? Fu, I think as a man, you shouldn’t ask me this question. How would I understand you men, after all, you men are always so unreasonable.”

Fu Cheng: “…Lina, although I’m not sexist, I feel like you said something wrong.”

Lina laughed: “Then do you think Reid is a reasonable person?”

Fu Cheng thought for a moment: “I think you’re right.”

After Zhuo Huan came back, he drank coffee alone in the pantry first, looking down and thinking about something unknown.

After ten minutes, the UAAG crowd finally saw him move.

“Going, going, report sir, the target is moving.” Su Fei, who had been observing for a long time, was excited.

Old Joseph was writing the investigation report, and only Lina and Fu Cheng were in the mood to pay attention to Su Fei.

Lina pretended to be interested: “What do you think Reid will do?”

Fu Cheng pondered for a moment: “Find Lawrence?”

Su Fei: “No way, didn’t RIP just have a fight with Lawrence… uh…” Before he finished speaking, he saw Zhuo Huan walk into Lawrence’s office arrogantly without knocking.

Lawrence’s office.

Seeing Great Master Zhuo, Lawrence’s scalp tingled, and he stood up. “Patrick, I was wrong. You can write whatever you want, okay? Anyway, I’m not writing the investigation report, Joseph is. Don’t be angry either. You know, I didn’t mean that. I also know that the cause of this accident cannot be determined qualitatively, and I didn’t really blindly think it was the pilot’s fault.”

Zhuo Huan glanced at him: “Nine out of ten times it is indeed pilot error.”

Lawrence: “…”

“Shit! What exactly do you want? You’re the one who said we can’t blame it all on the pilot, and you’re also the one who says it’s pilot error!”

Zhuo Huan: “Shouldn’t the NTSB show an attitude?”

Lawrence: “What?”

Fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, Zhuo Huan didn’t change his expression: “Continue searching for the black box.”

Lawrence: “…” He couldn’t bear it anymore: “What exactly do you want to say! Haven’t we already concluded that the black box drifted away with the ocean current? It drifted away! do you really think looking for a needle in a haystack can fish it out? This is harder than salvaging Rogue 318! Rogue 318 was at least a plane, but this is a black box, a black box as big as a computer case. Do you really want me to look for a needle in a haystack?”

Zhuo Huan raised his eyes, his gaze calm.

Somehow, looking at his eyes, Lawrence’s irritable mood finally calmed down. He sat back in his chair: “Sorry, I was a bit agitated. My friend, if you have any good suggestions, you might as well say them. But I have to tell you in advance, the investigation report of AA4012 must be published. The whole world is waiting for this answer. It is not Rogue 318, its wreckage has been salvaged, and this is not a McFly plane.” Pausing, he still said that sentence: “You are no longer the chief designer of McFly. NTSB will not give you so much face anymore. If you say don’t publish the report, it won’t be published.”

As if he didn’t hear Lawrence’s last sentence, Zhuo Huan said lightly: “I didn’t say the investigation report couldn’t be published.”

“Then what is your suggestion?”

“NTSB shouldn’t just give up searching for the black box like this. You should at least show an attitude. This is my request, and it cannot be changed.”

The next day, nightfall.

There are extremely many TV viewers in the United States. In the 1920s and 30s, TV entered thousands of households, and almost every American grew up in front of the TV. So even now, when the internet is so developed, the ratings of American TV programs are still very gratifying.

When it came to CNN and Fox News program time, many people were watching the news while enjoying dinner.

Suddenly, the cold and unsmiling male host received a new script. He glanced at it casually, looked up and began to broadcast: “Breaking news. According to NTSB news, the press conference for the AA4012 news report will be held in Boston next month. The cause of the accident has been investigated and entered the final summary stage. At the same time, NTSB and American Airlines jointly issued a reward. Anyone with information about the AA4012 black box can contact NTSB, with a reward of up to 500,000 US dollars. The following is a general introduction to the black box…”

At the same moment, Canadian news programs also published the same news report.

Boston, Investigation Headquarters.

Lina watched the news broadcast on CNN and said in surprise: “Reward, Reid, why did you suddenly have this idea.” She turned to look at Zhuo Huan beside her.

For two days, Great Master Zhuo had been in a bad mood and ignored people.

Fu Cheng thought for a long time: “The location where AA4102 crashed is actually quite special. It crashed in the Atlantic waters near Boston Bay, and this area is actually very close to the Newfoundland fishing grounds.”

Hearing this, Su Fei immediately became interested: “Cod?”

Lina: “And Boston lobster.”

As one of the world’s four major fishing grounds, Newfoundland fishing grounds abound in cod and lobster.

Fu Cheng: “Correct. If it crashed in the middle of the Atlantic like Air France, it would really be impossible to find. Like Rogue 318, crashing in inaccessible waters, it is also difficult to find traces. But AA4012, near the waters where it crashed, there is one of the world’s most prosperous fishing grounds. Although the Newfoundland fishing grounds have gradually declined since the 1990s, there are still many fishing boats fishing here. The black box drifts with the ocean current, and the Newfoundland fishing grounds happen to be where ocean currents converge. Maybe it can be found?”

Su Fei: “Maybe it can’t be found, it’s still looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Fu Cheng: “If you don’t try, how do you know you can’t succeed. At least NTSB and American Airlines did so. They didn’t give up directly and make a conclusion. Teacher Zhuo is really amazing.”

Everyone turned their heads to look at a certain man together.

Su Fei: “RIP, praising you, don’t you have any reaction?”

Zhuo Huan looked down at the laptop screen, fingers tapping on the keyboard, without raising his head: “Do you need to react to nonsense.”

Everyone was stunned: Nonsense?

The next moment, they reacted.

Fu Cheng: Teacher Zhuo is very amazing.

Zhuo Huan: Nonsense.

Everyone: “…”

Your Great Master Zhuo is still your Great Master Zhuo.

All investigation work ended completely here.

Although NTSB and American Airlines jointly issued a reward, everyone knew that this was a hopeless reward. Even if there were fishing boats fishing nearby, the possibility of them fishing out the American Airlines black box was minimal. Just as Zhuo Huan said: At least you have to show an attitude.

You shouldn’t give up any hope and end it hastily.

The UAAG members didn’t know what Zhuo Huan said to Lawrence. Even Zhuo Huan didn’t know that Lawrence stayed up all night yesterday, smoked an ashtray full of cigarettes in the office, and sent a 32-page application to the NTSB headquarters with bloodshot eyes, which finally made this happen.

On the last page of the application, he wrote—

『 Air crashes are inevitable.

On September 17, 1908, a stress crack appeared in the propeller, and US Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge died in a crash, becoming the first victim of an air crash in history.

On June 30, 1956, United Airlines Flight 718 and TWA Flight 2 collided in mid-air, leading to the establishment of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

…

Air crashes can never be avoided, but the fatality rate of aircraft accidents has dropped from 12% in 1960 to 0.16% in 2012. The number of planes flying in the sky increases geometrically every year, but the accident rate decreases geometrically as well.

Since 1903, when the Wright brothers spread their wings in the sky, one hundred and seventeen years have passed.

From the moment humans wanted to leave the earth and embrace the blue sky, it was destined to be a struggle with God for that mysterious domain.

Pilots are human, investigators are also human.

Without finding the black box, we all know that the possibility of non-human failure is less than 1%. But Mr. Reid Ivrin Patrick said: “Accidents only have the possibility of 1 and 0.”

When it is really pilot error, it is 1.

If it is really not pilot error, it is 0.

There is never that 1% possibility in the world.

Under this premise, ending this investigation with only an investigation report as the conclusion of the event, is that really the original intention of establishing the FAA, the ending NTSB wants to see? Regarding this, I feel deeply doubtful and confused.

Before the truth comes, do not make any judgment arbitrarily, let alone believe it to be true, blindly arrogant.

The dead cannot speak; they will not defend themselves.

Even if there is only that sliver of possibility, we should not give up after all.

This is the original intention of establishing the NTSB, and also the true ending we want to get every time we investigate an air crash. Every accident is pushing our steps towards that domain; every sacrifice is great, not meaningless.

How can we bury these great sacrifices.

Beside the beach of Boston Bay, the families of 298 victims held a memorial service for the victims on December 24. In the cold wind, I saw daughters who lost their parents placing bouquets in front of candlelight with trembling hands; I also saw elderly parents looking at the frozen smiles of their daughters in photos, hugging and weeping.

They sacrificed, and we must find the truth for them after all.

Applying that after the release of the investigation report, NTSB continues to salvage the AA4012 black box, or offer a public reward for it.

Buried under the dark and cold ocean current are 298 souls waiting to see the truth, never resting in peace.

Rest in peace. 』

All night long, the lights in Lawrence’s office didn’t go out, and the crisp sound of keyboard typing came from inside.

On the other side, in the UAAG office, gray-haired Old Joseph wore glasses, looking at the blinking cursor on the computer screen, having already written this investigation report to the aspect of the accident cause.

As an extremely excellent and experienced air force pilot who had engaged in aircraft accident investigation for 17 years afterwards, writing an accident investigation report was as easy as turning over his hand for Old Joseph. Even if Zhuo Huan made an extremely harsh request: asking him to write each accident cause with the same length, his typing speed didn’t slow down at all.

However, at 5 AM, when the east brightened, and bright glimmer slowly reflected and rose from the sea, Old Joseph stopped his typing hands.

A qualified aircraft accident investigation report includes four aspects.

Record of all air crash processes.

Analysis of the air crash process.

Investigation cause report.

Safety recommendations.

Investigating an air crash, besides giving the deceased the truth, is more about drawing lessons and summaries from it.

Old Joseph put his hands on the keyboard several times, but never typed a word—

He had written to the end of this investigation report, with only safety recommendations left.

Exhausted eyes stared deathly at the computer screen, bloodshot streaks exploding on the eyeballs. Under the eyes was a layer of faint bluish-black. He was extremely tired, but more tired than his body was his soul, heavy and unable to breathe like a trailer.

The investigation headquarters at 5 AM was silent.

Old Joseph came to the window and opened it. The cold sea breeze came head-on, piercing into the bottom of his heart like a knife. The moment his overly tired eyes touched the wind, tears overflowed. Boston in February was still that cold, just like Washington seventeen years ago. That was January, there was a blizzard again. When the plane rushed to the ground, after the huge explosion and roar sounded together, countless cold winds swept through every corner of the torn cockpit.

He was suffocated by the cold.

All the blood in his body seemed to coagulate at that moment.

His body had no temperature at all. There were crying sounds, screaming sounds. Then in that night where ambulances and fire trucks ran in panic together, he seemed to hear someone in the ruins exhaust all their strength and say a sentence softly before dying.

『 I’m sorry. 』

It seemed like an illusion, yet it seemed as clear as if it were in his ear.

Until two days later, he woke up in the ward. Lawrence, who was just a young investigator at the time, stood in front of him and told him that Michael Harrison died on the spot.

Memories rushed over like a tsunami. For a moment, Old Joseph couldn’t distinguish what had really happened and what he had fantasized after being tortured by pain for seventeen years.

He closed his eyes, the cold wind blowing into his collar and sleeves, freezing his whole body.

Seventeen years ago, Lawrence asked him a question in the hospital, and his answer was “I don’t know”.

Perhaps now, he could finally give that answer.

Taking out his phone, Old Joseph found Lawrence’s name and sent him a message.

【 I think, it was because of fear. 】

The next moment, Lawrence actually replied: 【 Still at the investigation headquarters? 】

Old Joseph was surprised: 【 Yes, you are too? 】

The office door was suddenly knocked. After opening, it was Lawrence’s smile: “Have a drink?”

The two found a few cans of beer hidden by someone from the corner of the pantry.

Old Joseph: “I never drink this stuff.”

Lawrence: “My old friend, there are no conditions to be particular at this time, finding it is good enough!”

The two drank for a while.

Old Joseph: “If I hadn’t vaguely noticed something, I don’t think I would have changed so much in the next seventeen years. You probably don’t know, three months ago when we first arrived in Boston, several pilots from American Airlines saw me and looked very afraid. Hey, you say I was so terrifying before, it’s been more than ten years, and they are still afraid?”

Lawrence: “Don’t you know what you are like yourself, still asking me.”

Old Joseph muttered and took a sip of wine.

Lawrence patted his shoulder: “Don’t take it to heart. When NTSB wrote the investigation report seventeen years ago, crew communication problems were listed as one of the causes of the accident, and suggestions were also made to American Airlines. But that was not the main reason. That accident was caused by multiple reasons: weather, pilot’s flying skills, loose landing gear, crew communication… Even if he really asked you for help and asked you to land, my old brother, are you sure you wouldn’t have any accidents?”

“The word failure is not in my dictionary!”

“For indomitable people, there is no such thing as failure?”

Old Joseph: “…”

Lawrence teased: “Iron Chancellor Bismarck’s life motto still suits you so well, Joseph.”

The two drank for a while longer.

Under the rising sun, two men who were no longer young leaned on each other’s shoulders, drinking while looking at the morning sun. The bright but not dazzling sunlight shone on these two silent faces. Perhaps the sunlight was too warm, Old Joseph gradually shed tears. He raised the beer bottle to the sunlight: “I’m sorry.”

Lawrence glanced at him and also raised the bottle: “Here’s to a better tomorrow.”

Seventeen years ago, the young Hader Joseph didn’t understand why a strange pilot didn’t ask him for help. He had never treated the other party harshly, nor had any dispute. They were not familiar at all.

Now, he was over fifty and looking back at his life.

The truth was long unknown. No one knew why Michael Harrison made that decision seventeen years ago.

However, the only thing he knew was—

What illuminates this world is sunshine, warmth, and understanding and gentleness more dazzling than the sun.

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