Chapter 38. Plane Accident (1)

The next day.

I headed to the airport to board my flight.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a major gateway to the southeastern United States and a key hub airport globally. Flights from all over the world and across the United States take off and land here.

Despite being a weekday, the airport was bustling with people due to its size and the numerous flights. After completing the check-in procedures, I entered the terminal.

I looked at the ticket in my hand.

The flight number was BW130. The departure time was 11:34 AM. The destination was Orlando.

Orlando is home to Disney World and Universal Studios, making it a popular tourist destination for Americans, especially for family trips.

I could already see children dressed as animation characters with headbands, clearly excited about their trip.

As boarding procedures began, people formed a long line.

There were an elderly couple, a pair of young lovers, a family with children, a man in a neatly pressed suit, and a woman with a bag and headphones, among others.

Among all the unfamiliar faces, I recognized one.

A middle-aged African American man.

He was almost 2 meters tall and weighed around 120 kilograms. He was bald, and his muscular build made him look like a professional wrestler.

When it was my turn, I showed my ticket and boarded the plane.

A flight attendant greeted me with a smile.

"Have a pleasant flight."

Unfortunately, it wouldn't be a pleasant flight.

Because something was about to happen.

* * *

Christopher Romu boarded the plane and found his seat. His seat was right next to the left engine.

After stowing his luggage and sitting down, his bottom was almost wedged between the armrests, his head was more than a foot above the headrest, and his knees almost touched the seat in front of him.

'This is indeed cramped.'

A moment later, an Asian man sat next to him. Due to Christopher's size, their shoulders naturally touched.

Christopher said apologetically,

"Sorry, but this seat is a bit cramped. I apologize."

The Asian man smiled and replied,

"It's fine. My name is Han Miru."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Christopher Romu."

Upon seeing his companion, Christopher asked,

"Are you Korean?"

"Ah! Yes, how did you know?"

"I was stationed in Korea as part of the U.S. military for three years."

"Really? Thank you for your service."

"Ha ha! Thank you."

After a few words, the two quickly became friends.

"Just call me Chris."

"Got it."

"By the way, you must have served in the military too."

"Yes, I was a sergeant in the Army and completed my service."

"I was in the Air Force."

"Was it as a fighter pilot?"

"Ha ha! No, I was a mechanic. I worked on fighter jets."

"Oh! I see."

As they chatted, the flight attendants closed the overhead compartments and checked the passengers' seat belts.

The plane slowly moved toward the runway.

At that moment, Christopher felt something was wrong.

'Wait. What's this?'

Han Miru asked him,

"What's wrong?"

"It's just that the engine sounds a bit off..."

"What? What do you mean?"

Christopher said with a serious expression,

"The engine is making an unusual sound."

Han Miru listened to the engine sound but couldn't tell anything was wrong.

"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"No, the sound is still there. We should stop and have it checked."

Meanwhile, the plane was gradually picking up speed on the runway.

Christopher was conflicted.

'What should I do? Should I tell the flight attendants now?'

He looked around.

A man in a suit, a middle-aged woman reading a magazine, a couple on a trip, and children playing in their seats.

If an accident were to happen, they would all be in danger.

'I have to tell them!'

Just as he was about to stand up, Han Miru unbuckled his seat belt and stood up, shouting,

"Hey! Hey!"

A flight attendant approached and said,

"The plane is about to take off. Please take your seat."

"There's something wrong with the engine!"

His words not only caught the attention of the flight attendants but also the other passengers.

Han Miru raised his voice.

"The plane needs to be turned around. It's dangerous to take off like this!"

"What do you mean?"

"The engine is making an unusual sound."

A few flight attendants approached, and one ran to the cockpit.

"The engine is fine. Please stop causing a disturbance and take your seat."

"There is something wrong! Please stop the plane and check the engine."

The first officer also came out.

"What's going on?"

A flight attendant explained the situation.

"The passenger said the engine is making an unusual sound."

Han Miru nodded.

"Yes, it's a different sound from what I usually hear."

"Wait a moment."

The first officer motioned for everyone to be quiet. He put his ear to the window and listened to the engine. Then he said,

"What exactly is wrong?"

"I've flown over ten times, and this is the first time I've heard this sound. There's definitely something wrong."

The first officer calmly replied,

"I've been flying for 13 years, and I hear this sound all the time. There's nothing wrong."

"There is something wrong!"

"If there were a problem, the warning lights would come on. The plane is safe, so please take your seat."

"Are you ignoring the passenger? It's not safe to take off like this."

Unable to bear it any longer, some of the surrounding passengers started to comment.

"Hey!"

"Stop it!"

"What are you doing?"

"You're causing trouble for everyone else."

"What if the plane can't take off?"

Since it was a flight to Orlando, there were many families on board. As the commotion grew, some children started to cry.

"I'm not the only one who thinks this!"

"Who else thinks this?"

Han Miru quickly pointed to the African American man sitting by the window.

"Right there! He said the engine is making an unusual sound. Chris! Tell them you agree with me!"

All eyes turned to Christopher, who was taken aback.

'Why did he involve me?'

Of course, he was the first to notice the unusual sound. If Han Miru hadn't spoken up first, he would have done so.

However, after the first officer confirmed there was no problem, Chris wasn't sure anymore.

"Chris definitely said there was something wrong! He's a former Air Force mechanic and a top aircraft expert who served in Korea!"

Christopher was even more flustered.

'I'm not that good!'

Moreover, his expertise was in fighter jet maintenance.

"I believed Chris and was certain there was a problem. Are you saying you don't believe him?"

The first officer asked,

"Is that true?"

Christopher, sweating, replied,

"Well, there was a slight unusual sound, but..."

"See! He also heard the unusual sound! He said we should stop and check the engine!"

Christopher waved his hands.

"No, no, when did I say that?"

'If I say this, they'll think I told him to do it!'

Han Miru shouted even louder.

"Turn the plane around now!"

"How do you expect us to turn it around?"

"Can't we reverse?"

The passengers became even more hostile.

"Hey, you!"

"Stop it, you lunatic!"

"What are you doing?"

"Arrest this guy!"

"Ugh!"

As one child started to cry, others joined in.

"But I'm not the only one who thinks this!"

"Who else thinks this?"

Han Miru quickly pointed to the African American man.

"Right there! He said the engine is making an unusual sound. Chris! Tell them you agree with me!"

The flight attendants and passengers all focused on Christopher, who was flustered.

'Why did he involve me?'

Of course, he was the first to notice the unusual sound. If Han Miru hadn't spoken up first, he would have done so.

However, after the first officer confirmed there was no problem, Chris wasn't sure anymore.

"Chris definitely said there was something wrong! He's a former Air Force mechanic and a top aircraft expert who served in Korea!"

Christopher was even more flustered.

'I'm not that good!'

Moreover, his expertise was in fighter jet maintenance.

"I believed Chris and was certain there was a problem. Are you saying you don't believe him?"

The first officer asked,

"Is that true?"

Christopher, sweating, replied,

"Well, there was a slight unusual sound, but..."

"See! He also heard the unusual sound! He said we should stop and check the engine!"

Christopher waved his hands.

"No, no, when did I say that?"

'If I say this, they'll think I told him to do it!'

Han Miru shouted even louder.

"Turn the plane around now!"

"How do you expect us to turn it around?"

"Can't we reverse?"

The passengers became even more hostile.

"Hey, you!"

"Stop it, you lunatic!"

"What are you doing?"

"Arrest this guy!"

"Ugh!"

As one child started to cry, others joined in.

But Han Miru didn't back down.

"If you don't check the engine, I'll get off the plane."

The flight attendant warned,

"If we turn back, you could be arrested and charged with causing a disturbance on the plane."

In Korea, such incidents often go unpunished, but in the U.S., the consequences are severe. Not only could he be punished, but he might also be deported and banned from re-entry.

But...

Han Miru confidently said,

"I don't care. Turn the plane around now. I can't fly on this plane. The engine sound is unusual. I'll get off, even if I'm arrested or punished."

* * *

Mark Phillips.

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Georgia, he was dedicated to his political career and was loved by the residents of Georgia and many citizens across the country.

Politics is often seen as a leisurely profession, but in reality, he was so busy that he didn't know how the days passed.

Moreover, he often had to stay in Washington D.C., making it difficult to see his family.

Fortunately, he had finally managed to take a vacation and decided to go to Orlando, as promised to his family.

Next to him were his loving wife and two daughters who looked just like her. They were 23 and 25 years old.

His two intelligent and beautiful daughters were his pride.

His eldest daughter, Elena, said with a hint of reproach,

"It's been so long since we last went on a family trip, I can hardly remember."

His younger daughter, Liana, pouted and said,

"Finally, we're going to Disney World. How can you keep a promise you made to a 12-year-old now?"

"Ha ha..."

"Last time, you canceled because of work, and Mom and I went to Hawaii with the kids. Can politicians break promises like that?"

As a senator, he was excellent, but as a husband and father, he was a failure.

Even if he had ten mouths, he had no excuse, but Senator Phillips tried to explain.

"Well, there was a sudden gun incident..."

"Before that, there was a wildfire."

"That was..."

His wife held his hand and said,

"Do you know how much the kids were looking forward to this trip with their dad?"

He gave an awkward smile.

"I have no excuse. I'll try to spend more time with my family in the future."

Liana looked at him with wide eyes.

"I'll be watching."

Mark Phillips suddenly felt that he was the happiest person in the world.

His ability to engage in political activities was possible only because of his family's support. They were everything to him.

A passenger in the seat in front turned around and said to him,

"I'm a fan of yours, Senator. Could I have your autograph?"

Liana, testing him, asked,

"Do you prefer blue or red?"

"Blue."

"Then, between a donkey and an elephant?"

"Definitely a donkey."

"Good. Here's some paper."

Liana handed the paper to her father.

When one passenger received the autograph, others around them also started to offer their paper.

Liana told them,

"Please form a line. And please continue to support the Democratic Party."

"Of course."

"I'll join the Democratic Party right away."

"Only you can stop the tyranny of the Republicans."

"Please make sure the gun control bill passes."

Senator Phillips gladly signed and shook hands with them. As he did, the plane started to move toward the runway.

The announcement came over the intercom.

"Please remain seated and fasten your seat belts until further notice."