Chapter 8 — Before takeoff, I refused to sign the order for the plane to fly

The sentence is very light. I raised my head to look at him. He sat down in the chair opposite.

"Among the passengers was a child who cried all the time."

"The head flight attendant said the child's family was very excited."

"I know."

"In the cockpit, I heard an exchange between passenger services and dispatch."

"Everyone only asks one question..."

"How much longer do we have to wait?"

"I know."

"That pressure is real."

"I know."

He looked at me for a long time.

"I didn't come here to make you feel guilty."

"So what did you come for?"

"To make sure you don't turn this into your own war."

I was silent. He continued slowly:

"The words 'safety' are normally just slogans hanging on the wall."

"But when it's time to really use it..."

"It's a lot heavier."

"Today you took your first owl."

"But from now on..."

"...can't just let you carry the burden."

I looked at him.

"Are you going to bear the burden for me?"

He shook his head.

"I'm just going to write clearly about the responsibility that belongs to me."

I smiled.

"There are indeed very boundaries."

"Professional habits."

I also smiled slightly. That was my first smile all day. I see. But don't take advantage of that to make jokes. That's very good. Every tenderness that is attempted to be wrapped up is like tying a bow on a fire alarm. Still entangled. The bedroom door opened again. Han Ve Dong walked in. In his hand was a familiar old thermos.

"The Duong engineer's side has had preliminary results."

I immediately stood up.

"What was the result?"

Han Ve Dong replied:

"Non-destructive testing detected an unusual signal near the bottom edge of the door frame."

"Further inspection has been carried out."

"The structural department makes a preliminary assessment..."

"...cannot continue mining according to allowable damage standards."

Co Thua Trach also stood up.

"So the decision to change the plane was correct?"

Han Ve Dong turned to look at me.

"Your refusal to sign..."

"...is correct."

Sounds like a conclusion. But... I didn't feel as relieved as I thought I would. Because the plane didn't take off... It doesn't mean it's over. It just proves that... Today, we were able to prevent the worst from happening. Han Ve Dong put the thermos on the table.

"Drink some hot water."

I laughed.

"Master, last year, the Pitot tube incident... you also told me to drink hot water."

He nodded.

"That time I was a bit slow."

"What about this time?"

He was silent for a long time. Then he said softly:

"This time..."

"...you're too hasty."

I bowed my head. The bridge of my nose suddenly stings. Han Ve Dong gently tapped on the table.

"Don't be so quick to get complacent."

"Tearing up ballots is still a stupid act."

"I know."

"Next time, you must clearly state the reason for refusing to sign, take photos for records, keep the original, immediately report to MCC and notify the Quality Safety department."

"I know."

"I knew it but I still tore it."

I burst out laughing helplessly.

"The hand reacts faster than the mind."

Han Weidong snorted.

"My mind is not slow either."

He walked to the door and then suddenly turned back.

"Lessons learned meeting tomorrow..."

"I will admit that my initial assessment was incomplete."

I was stunned.

"Master..."

He waved his hand.

"Don't look at me with those eyes."

"He hasn't retired yet."

"I admit I didn't look carefully... there's nothing to be ashamed of."

Having finished speaking, he carried the old thermos and left. Co Thua Trach looked following his back.

"Your master is a very respectable person."

"It's just that my mouth is a bit stiff."

He smiled softly.

"Hard mouth..."

"But the spine is stronger than many people."

I didn't reply. At that moment, the phone screen lit up again. This time it's an announcement from the Quality Safety department. Tomorrow morning, at nine o'clock, the investigation will officially open. In the attached file there is also a new photo. Two fifty in the morning. At the edge of the camera's blind spot, there was a person wearing a blue airline raincoat standing next to the luggage cart. Not the uniform of ground staff. It's the uniform of the company's internal employees. Exactly nine o'clock the next morning. The investigation room is almost full. There is a representative from the Quality Safety department. Maintenance Department. Mining Operations Center. Outsourced ground service unit. Line maintenance management. And the company's legal department. A large screen on the wall displayed the entire timeline of the incident.