Chapter 1 — Before takeoff, I refused to sign the order for the plane to fly

The entire flight crew urged me to let the plane take off, but right before departure time, I tore up the approval form. After the heavy rain stopped, the flight was delayed for six hours. The captain, the dispatcher and one hundred and eighty passengers were all waiting for my signature. The on-duty manager coldly said:

"If you don't let the plane take off, all losses will be borne by you."

I tore up the check sheet he gave me. Because the new ring of scratches that appeared on the underside of the plane... in the photos taken after last night's flight were completely absent. When the re-test results were announced... The first person to lock the door was the manager. The heavy rain has stopped. The flight was also delayed six hours. The captain, dispatcher and one hundred and eighty passengers were all waiting for my signature. The manager on duty said that if I didn't let the plane take off, all damages would be on my head. I don't explain a single sentence. Just quietly tear the check sheet in half. Because the new ring of scratches under the plane's belly... last night still doesn't exist. The sound of paper being torn was very soft. But everyone on the apron heard it clearly. Trieu Minh Vien stood under the telescopic bridge to board the plane, his raincoat had not yet been taken off, his face was more gloomy than the low clouds.

"Lam Ha, do you know what you are doing?"

I clasped the two pieces of paper in my hand.

"This is a transit inspection card."

"That's the copy you asked someone to fill out and give it to me, not the official record."

He glanced at the ground handling manager standing next to him, then looked back at the foot of the boarding stairs. On that manager's walkie-talkie, urging rang out continuously.

"Passengers have been waiting for six hours."

"Captain Co asked when the cabin door could be closed."

"The dispatcher said that if there is a delay of another twenty-five minutes, the three flights behind will be affected."

Trieu Minh Vien lowered his voice.

"The heavy rain just stopped. Today the entire airport is taking advantage of every take-off time slot. Don't be stubborn about this moment."

I raised my head and looked down at the belly of the plane. Rainwater followed the fuselage shell and dripped to the ground. Flashlight swept across. Right in front of the rear cargo door, a ring of light gray scratches appeared, as if a hard object had been rubbed across it. The scratch is not deep. Not long either. If you just look at it at a glance, it's easy to think it's a normal stain from scratches on the ground. Han Ve Dong squatted next to me. He is my master, and has worked in flight maintenance for more than twenty years. He used the back of his hand to wipe away the rain, bent down to observe for a moment and then said:

"It's probably just a scratched paint layer. There's no visible metal part yet. Take a photo and save it first, wait for the plane to complete the flight and then report later."

"It wasn't there yet last night."

I opened my phone and found a photo taken after the flight at 1 a.m. It's still the same plane. Still the same shooting angle. The section of the fuselage just below the rear cargo door is still intact and clean, even the location of the mud splashes is completely consistent. Only... there are no scratches at all. Han Ve Dong frowned slightly.

"Are you sure this is the same plane?"

I enlarged the photo. Aircraft number, parking location, warning stamp next to the door The rear cargo compartment, even the old scratch on a side rivet... all match.

"It's the same one."

Trieu Minh Vien took the flashlight from my hand. He looked at it once and then quickly moved the light away.

"Just a small scratch like this and you want to keep the plane?"

"I never said I would keep the plane."

"So what do you mean by tearing up the ticket?"

"Before completing the re-examination, I will not sign."

He smiled faintly. The smile is very short and very tired.

"If you don't sign, what will the maintenance staff use to issue orders for the plane? How will the flight take off? How will you explain to the passengers? How will the flight crew's working hours be calculated? Where is the reserve plane now? Have you thought about it?"

"I think so."

"I thought about it but still tore it?"

"It's because I just signed that I haven't thought about it yet."

He stared at me. I know what he hates the most right now is my attitude. Don't cry. Do not shout safety slogans. Just quietly tear a piece of paper. It was like tearing the six-hour delay, the dinner of one hundred and eighty passengers, the flights behind, the company's compensation, and his anger at staying up all night in half. The walkie-talkie suddenly rang.

"Manager Trieu, the captain asked the technical department how much longer."

Trieu Minh Vien pressed the answer button.

"Right here."

I put my hand over his walkie-talkie.

"Can't say 'right here'."

He bent down to look at my hand.

"I haven't reported it to MCC yet."

"Then report immediately."

He slammed the walkie-talkie into his palm.

"I give you five minutes. Within five minutes, if you cannot provide a reason to recheck, then go explain yourself to the captain, dispatcher and passenger service department."

I immediately called the Maintenance Control Center. As soon as the phone was connected, I reported the aircraft number, flight number, parking location, current location and damaged location.

"A new ring-shaped scratch was detected under the rear cargo door, in the aircraft's belly area, near the skin joint. In the photo taken after the flight last night, there was no such mark. There were no reports of ground collision. Structural engineer requested to assist."

The person who answered the phone was Duong Nghien. His voice was very calm.

"Send photo, with scale measure. Report relative position."

I took out the measuring tape. Raindrops fell onto the ruler's surface. I squatted down again. The ground service manager stood in the distance looking at me, his eyes as if he were looking at someone who was still trying to light a fire after the heavy rain had just stopped. On the stairs to the plane, Co Thua Trach walked down. He wore a captain's uniform and a reflective vest. The rain has stopped, but the apron surface still reflects sparkling water. He stopped behind me.

"Who refuses to sign?"

I raised my head. He looked at the name tag on my chest.

"What's the situation now?"