Chapter 3 — Before takeoff, I refused to sign the order for the plane to fly

Co Thua Trach calmly replied:

"I've already informed the company's Mining Operations Center."

"They're asking too."

"Then just state clearly the reason for re-checking."

Trieu Minh Vien lightly pressed the tip of his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

"For you, the process sounds very simple. But who will reassure the passengers? Who will arrange for flight changes? Who will be responsible for compensation? Who will bear the burden of five flights behind?"

I placed the depth gauge close to the edge of the scratch.

"Manager Zhao."

"I can't handle those things."

He looked at me. I continued:

"So, I only shoulder the part that has my signature."

Han Ve Dong raised the back of his hand to block the wind after the rain. This time, he no longer spoke up to defend Trieu Minh Vien. I measured three times in a row. The data at the deepest concave point are very small. If considering only the depth, it still seems to be at the border of what can be handled. Duong Nghien asked me to upload all the photos. Five minutes later, he called back.

"I have checked the SRM. This area cannot be looked at only at depth. The location is near the rear cargo compartment door frame and the aircraft belly skin joint. The current data is not enough to allow exploitation. Open the panel inside the rear cargo compartment, check the inner structure."

Trieu Minh Vien frowned.

"How long will this take?"

Duong Nghien replied:

"Field staff follow the work card in the AMM. Remove panels, visually inspect, take photos. If necessary, conduct non-destructive testing."

"Mr. Duong, the entire airport is experiencing delays today."

"I know."

"If this plane can't take off, all the flights behind will be messed up."

Duong Nghien's voice remained unchanged.

"Manager Trieu, at MCC I didn't see any passengers. The only thing I saw was the damaged location you sent up. With this area, we can't just rely on 'it doesn't look deep' to let the plane take off."

Co Thua Trach lowered his head to look at the clock.

"I will inform the flight attendant to continue waiting."

Trieu Minh Vien rubbed his forehead.

"Lam Ha, are you satisfied now?"

"I don't know yet."

"Don't know yet?"

"The recheck hasn't been completed yet. I don't know yet whether the plane can take off or not."

He smiled coldly.

"But when I tore up the ballot, it was very decisive."

I stuffed the torn photocopy ticket into my pocket.

"When signing, 'don't know' is not allowed."

Trieu Minh Vien turned and left. The manager of the passenger service department hurriedly chased after her.

"Manager Trieu, the departure gate needs to agree on a response."

"Let's just say we're doing a technical check."

"If the passenger asks how much longer?"

"Half an hour."

Duong Nghien heard it on the phone.

"Don't promise half an hour."

Trieu Minh Vien paused.

"So what do I have to promise? Promise that they will sleep at the airport tonight?"

Duong Nghien calmly replied:

"Promise that testing is still underway."

Finally, Han Ve Dong also spoke.

"Manager Trieu, please withdraw the stairs first. Don't let the passenger compartment prepare to close."

Trieu Minh Vien looked at him.

"Old Han, even you think you can't let the plane take off?"

Han Ve Dong lowered the flashlight beam right onto the scratch.

"I only see one thing that Lam Ha said is right."

"Never happened last night."

As soon as those four words ended, Trieu Minh Vien did not say another word. The rear cargo door is open again. The tool box was pushed under the belly of the plane. I put on safety glasses and, along with Han Ve Dong, followed the work card to remove the inner panel. Co Thua Trach returned to the cockpit. Before leaving, he asked me:

"Lam Ha, have you been criticized before for being too cautious?"

I screwed the first fixing screw.

"Last winter, the test data of the Pitot tube heating system on an airplane was unstable. I requested a retest, which caused a forty-minute delay in the flight. Finally, it was determined that the test wire connector had poor contact, which did not affect the flight."

"And then what?"

"During the review meeting, they said my judgment chain was too long."

"So what do you think?"

"That time I did the process too slowly."

"What about this time?"

I paused for a moment.

"This time... I'm still following the correct procedure."

He nodded.

"Then continue."

When the inner panel is removed, the apron after the rain is also a bit brighter. The far runway has been reopened. Each plane rolled out one after another to take off. Only our plane remained stationary. Like a nail that is hated by the whole airport. At first glance, there is nothing unusual on the inside. There is still some moisture inside the rear cargo compartment. The light swept across, the compartment walls, wire bundles, brackets and the edge of the door frame were all still in the correct position. Han Ve Dong put his hands on his waist and slowly exhaled.

"Maybe it's really just a scratch on the surface."

At that moment, Trieu Minh Vien returned. As soon as he heard that sentence, he immediately looked at me. I still don't lift my head.

"It's not done yet."

"Even Old Han said it might just be a scratch on the surface."

"It's 'possible'."

"Do you know how much this hour is worth?"

I continued taking photos.

"It's very expensive."

"Do you know how the passengers are scolding?"

"Do you know who will be responsible for this flight delay if it proves that there was no problem in the end?"

I uploaded all the photos to Duong Nghien.

"The process will be responsible."

He laughed.

"You're really suitable for writing slogans."

Duong Nghien asked us to point the camera towards the bottom edge of the door frame. I followed. The other end of the line was silent for more than ten seconds.

"Move left two centimeters."

I move the phone.

"Is Master Han nearby?"

Han Ve Dong stepped closer.

"Look near the second fixing point at the bottom edge of the door frame to see if there are any cracks in the coating."

Han Ve Dong brought the flashlight closer. That location is very small. If it weren't for Duong Nghien's reminder, I probably would have thought it was just a stain. Han Ve Dong leaned in to observe.

"There seems to be a way."

"Use a cotton cloth to wipe gently, do not use solvents."

Han Weidong wiped it once. The crack is still there. Even more obvious. Duong Nghien's voice lowered.

"Take high-resolution photos. Then measure the relationship between the highest point of the outer scratch and this fixed point in the projection direction."

I picked up the ruler again. The highest point of the outer scratch is almost in line with that fixed point. The error does not exceed three centimeters. Duong Nghien immediately said:

"Stop. Do not reinstall the cladding. Notify the quality department and structural engineer for assistance. Non-destructive testing is required."

Trieu Minh Vien's face immediately changed.

"Engineer Duong, are you sure?"

"I'm sure that further examination is needed."

"I mean are you sure you can't let the plane take off?"

Duong Nghien replied decisively:

"This flight is not allowed."

Inside the cargo hold, no one moved.