Air Crash Investigators Chapter 5

Japan Airlines JL917 crashed into a farmland one kilometer east of Vantaa Airport.

Half a year has passed, and this open space has already been marked out by the Finnish authorities, and no one else is allowed to enter until the results of the accident investigation are known.

An F435 aircraft that can accommodate more than 200 people is a giant that covers the sky and the sun when soaring in the sky. When it breaks on the ground, its long wings hit the ground hard, and the scars left are still shocking half a year later.

JL917 belongs to Japan Airlines, and the aircraft manufacturer is American McAfee. The investigation of this aircraft accident is led by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), assisted by the Japan Air Accident Investigation Bureau, NTSB and McAfee.

UAAG was specially invited by the European Aviation Safety Agency to participate in the investigation a few days ago. Now UAAG requires on-site collection again. More than 20 staff members entered the scene to do the final collection work.

Ethan Fu pulled open the yellow cordon and bent over to enter the crash site.

Wild grasses grew in the wind over an area of   about half a square kilometer. But among these wild grasses, there were patches of burned land, which looked like psoriasis that was difficult to get rid of on human skin, and were mottled and glaring in front of us.

"JL917 carried 140 tons of fuel when it took off. When it landed, there were less than 5 tons of fuel left on the left and right wings. Because of the sudden crash, the fuel exploded and a fire broke out, which burned the land into this state." Yi Su pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose and explained to Ethan Fu.

Ethan Fu was new and didn't know much about the plane crash. As a companion, although Yi Su was introverted, he was more open-minded after drinking with him last night and took the initiative to help his companions understand the details.

Ethan Fu: "So running out of fuel is ruled out as a reason."

Finland is one of the countries with the lowest aviation accident rate in the world. Before this major air crash, Finland's worst air crash occurred in 2014, which caused 8 deaths and 3 missing persons.

Even though half a year had passed since the accident, there were still many tourists passing by and watching the open space surrounded by cordons on their way to Vantaa Airport.

Being in a foreign country, Ethan Fu and Yi Su subconsciously used English when speaking.

As soon as the two finished speaking, some onlookers not far away expressed surprise and communicated with their companions.

"Out of fuel? Sh!t, how can a plane fall like this? Don't they fill it up with fuel?"

Ethan Fu turned around and glanced at those people vaguely.

The reason of running out of fuel sounds outrageous, but it has happened more than once in the history of human air crashes.

On December 28, 1978, when United Airlines Flight 173 was landing at Portland International Airport, the aircraft had a display failure. The two captains were focused on repairing the instrument failure and did not notice that the fuel was running out, eventually crashing.

On August 6, 2005, Tunis International Airlines Flight 1153 used the wrong fuel quantity indicator, resulting in a shortfall of 2 tons of fuel. Ultimately, it failed to reach its destination and had to make an emergency landing at sea.

Aircraft are never fully fueled because this is highly uneconomical and greatly increases the cost of flying.

Moreover, too much fuel will increase the risk when the aircraft lands.

Obviously, the burned and scarred land beneath our feet is also reminding people that there was still fuel on board JL917 when it crashed.

Ethan Fu calmed himself down.

Today was a sunny day, and the cool breeze blew from the blue waves of the Gulf of Finland, mixed with a hint of salty and humid seawater. Fu Chengruo looked at the man standing not far away inadvertently, only to see him with his hands in his pockets, looking up at the sky, his eyes slightly closed.

The long hair was blown back by the wind.

It's like listening to the sound of the wind.

The next moment, this picture was broken. Ethan Fu hurriedly turned his eyes away. Patrick Zhuo walked over slowly, and a slightly cold voice sounded from behind him: "Remeasure the initial impact point, ground fire area, flight path..."

On the other side, the investigation team headquarters.

"Fuel exhaustion has been ruled out, so what are the remaining factors? Aircraft system failure, weather and human factors?" Alex Su held the accident data of JL917 in his hand, but he didn't read a word. He stretched his neck and said curiously, "It seems quite simple."

Old Joseph looked at him with amusement: "Simple? The weather can almost be ruled out. It was a rare good day in Helsinki that day. The weather was clear and the wind speed was 5-15 knots. It would be hard to find such good weather again."

Alex Su clapped his hands: "That's easy, isn't it? The only remaining issues are aircraft system failure and human factors."

"The human factor depends on the black box. Perhaps the CVR (cockpit voice recorder) will give us the answer, but the black box is still being repaired at the McAfee headquarters. The explosion just happened to destroy the core part of the black box."

The punk boy stood up and said, "RIP asked me to come here just for this!"

Old Joseph laughed. He looked through the 3D model of the accident on his computer and suddenly thought: "Speaking of which, this is Mai Fei's plane. Did Reid participate in the design of this plane?" He turned to look at Grace beside him.

Grace smiled and said, "The F435 was built in the 1990s, when Reid was just born. Of course, as far as I know, he was not involved in the subsequent improvements."

"I see."

At the scene of the plane accident, Yi Su and other staff members assembled a site scanner and began scanning the scene.

Ethan Fu was also a layman in this area and only listened to Yi's words. After scanning, he could go back and use the data directly to build the model.

He squatted down, stretched out his hand and touched the scorched land on the ground.

It feels icy cold when you first start. This is the initial impact point. Half a year ago, JL917 started its journey of no return from here.

Japan Airlines JL917 uses the F435 aircraft produced by McPherson in 1991.

That plane...he has also flown it.

However, he did not notice that not far away, there was a man with his eyes lowered, looking at him quietly.

The black coat was open, so it fluttered in the wind. He watched the black-haired young man as long as he was stroking the scorched ground. Halfway through, he even took out his cell phone with interest, turned on the clock, and wanted to press the stopwatch, but unfortunately, Ethan Fu stood up.

The black-haired young man walked up to him expressionlessly and said politely, "Teacher Zhuo, do you have anything to ask of me?"

Patrick Zhuo raised his eyebrows: "So obvious?"

What I mean is, do you see it very clearly?

Ethan Fu: ...

Ethan Fu said calmly, "I looked up a lot of information about this plane crash at the hotel last night, but I still don't understand why you transferred me to UAAG." He paused, "I'm just a pilot and I don't have any experience in aircraft accident investigation."

Patrick Zhuo: "There is an active pilot of China Eastern Airlines on board, who is proficient in all types of aircraft currently in service and has a flight qualification license for the ERJ-190---"

"Always available if needed."

His eyes suddenly widened.

"Were you on that plane, too?"

Wow, no more honorifics.

Patrick Zhuo's eyebrows twitched.

Ethan Fu's mind was turning over and over, and many strange things suddenly had answers.

What kind of person could be noticed by the top management of LaGuardia Airport and be personally received in the crew waiting room; why did the captain refuse his kindness when he offered to help on the out-of-control plane?

Because of Patrick Zhuo.

Because that person is Reid Ivrin Patrick Zhuo.

"It's almost time to go back." Patrick Zhuo took out a piece of gum from his pocket and threw it into his mouth. He handed it to Ethan Fu, "Or?"

Ethan Fu looked at him with mixed feelings.

"When you don't want it anymore." Patrick Zhuo took the gum back, put his hands in his pockets, and walked away. Halfway through, he stopped and looked back at the black-haired young man standing there, "By the way, I'm curious, what were you looking at for so long at the initial impact point just now?"

Ethan Fu didn't say anything.

Patrick Zhuo thought he had no answer, so he stopped talking and turned away.

Watching the man's back, Ethan Fu's eyes darkened and there was no expression on his face.

"Being with Patrick Zhuo... is a bit overwhelming."

Ethan Fu turned around and saw Yi Su, who had packed up his equipment at some point and was walking towards him.

Yi Su pushed his glasses and smiled, "The data has been scanned, and we can make the model when we go back. In fact, UAAG was established less than three months ago, and I just joined the organization last month. When I heard that I was transferred to UAAG, I was very surprised and didn't understand why I was transferred here..."

Ethan Fu was about to speak.

Yi Su: "I am different from you. I have heard of you, Major Fu, the youngest major in the Chinese Air Force. You are a genius. You transferred from the military to the civil aviation for personal reasons half a year ago. You are a legend in the Chinese aviation industry. I still can't believe that someone can master all types of aircraft. As for him..."

Yi Su looked at the man who walked to the edge of the cordon.

Patrick Zhuo.

The yellow cordon became nothing in front of this man, and he stepped over it with his long legs.

Yi Su's tone was full of admiration and respect. He seemed to casually say, "Is there really anyone in the Chinese aviation industry who doesn't admire Patrick Zhuo?"

"Is your idolatry broken now?"

Yi Su was unable to react for a moment: "W-what?"

Under the setting sun, the face of the black-haired young man was against the slightly drunken sunset glow, and the hair on his face was clearly visible. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and said with a gentle smile: "I mean, it turns out that Patrick Zhuo is this kind of person."

As soon as the three of them returned to the investigation team headquarters, the punk boy came up to them.

Although Ethan Fu didn't think the two had a good relationship, Alex Su waved to him enthusiastically before looking at Patrick Zhuo. His expression suddenly changed: "Heh, RIP, I already know what you wanted to do by trying so hard to trick me into your UAAG in Boston. Hand it over, the black box of Japan Airlines Flight 917, I will be responsible for repairing it for you. If even I can't fix it, no one in this world can fix it."

Patrick Zhuo sneered: "So confident?"

Alex Su was furious. Before he could say anything, old Joseph came out to smooth things over: "Reid, do you know who you are provoking?"

Alex Su straightened his chest.

Patrick Zhuo lazily stretched out his hand and scratched his ear: "Who?"

Old Joseph coughed and said, "I won the IMO gold medal at the age of 13, was nominated for the Turing Award at the age of 16, and graduated with a master's degree from Harvard at the age of 17..."

With every word old Joseph spoke, Yi Su's expression became more shocked.

Old Joseph: "...a famous scholar who is now sought after by major cutting-edge companies in the industry, Mr. Fly Su."

Patrick Zhuo: "Huh? Wait, isn't it Sphoie?"

Sphoie.

Sophie.

Alex Su: ...

Grace: ...

Yi Su: ...

Old Joseph spread his hands and said: Well, whoever wants to be a good guy can do it.

Ethan Fu: "Pfft."

Everyone's eyes turned to him.

Even Patrick Zhuo looked at him in surprise.

Ethan Fu: ...

...Just, don’t you think it’s quite funny?

The punk boy was so angry that he said to Ethan Fu: "I thought you were my best friend here! We're done! We're done!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

After a while of noise, everyone soon went back to do their own things.

Under the moonlight, Ethan Fu was looking through the photos of the wreckage taken by the European Aviation Safety Agency when suddenly a shadow blocked the light. He looked up.

This man really has a look that matches his fame. Even from a deadly angle from bottom to top, his perfect jawline and high nose bridge are impeccable.

Ethan Fu's lips moved for a long time, and his voice was calm: "Teacher Zhuo?"

Patrick Zhuo pulled out a piece of gum from his pocket, chuckled softly, and put it in his palm.

"It's a reward, my partner in jokes."