Chapter 16
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Chapter 16: Turbulence! The First Collision
Most people around were still in a half-asleep state, completely unaware. Some who hadn’t fallen asleep merely lifted their heads to glance around before returning to their books or other activities. Such bumps during the flight were utterly normal; sometimes, the wings of the plane would shudder noticeably in high-altitude turbulence, but none of this necessarily indicated danger. Passengers could only place their utmost trust in the cabin crew.
Amid the shaking, the flight attendants maintained calm expressions, steady as a mountain, seemingly accustomed to such turbulent situations. During their professional training, they had learned how to stay composed in emergencies, the best way to soothe passengers’ nerves.
No one anticipated that, in a sudden violent jolt, the aircraft seemed to lose gravity, plunging down violently. The unexpected sensation of weightlessness sent a collective scream echoing through the cabin, regardless of age or gender. Loose items like glasses, drinks, books, and snacks seemed to float for a moment before gravity returned, causing chaos as they fell and struck a few passengers, leaving some with bruised faces and gasps of shock.
“Attention, passengers! We are currently going through an area of high-altitude turbulence. Please fasten your seatbelts and stow away sharp objects and personal belongings,” the soothing voice of a flight attendant filled the cabin. Although she herself had been startled just moments ago, her professional demeanor brought a slight sense of relief to the passengers.
Lin Mo, however, set his book aside completely, having no intention of continuing. He felt distinctly that, just after disembarking from the airplane, the sudden weightless feeling indicated a drop of at least two hundred meters in an instant by the standards of this world. For an aerial knights’ regiment, such rapid descent was insignificant, but for regular civilian flights, it was far from normal.
As the passengers’ worries hadn’t fully subsided, the aircraft suddenly shook violently again, moving up and down erratically. The extreme drops intensified, and the cabin erupted with shrill cries. Even the flight attendants turned pale, gripping the cabin fixtures tightly to avoid being tossed around by the intense shaking. Items that hadn’t been secured flailed dangerously—women’s purses, iPads, phones, and books flew up and down, hitting several passengers, causing more bruises and cries.
The flight attendant who had been using a microphone to calm the passengers put it down and took the cabin phone, dialing the cockpit. After numerous attempts, she received no response. Under normal circumstances, the captain or co-pilot would immediately report the flying status to the cabin and stabilize the passengers.
The first-class passengers near the front of the aircraft, comprised mostly of social elites, were more sensitive and quickly noticed when the flight attendants began to display unusual expressions. With mutual yet unspoken concern, some started to loudly inquire about what was happening.
The flight attendant ignored the passengers’ questions, glancing into the cockpit through the glass door. The instant she did, her face turned pale. She rushed to a hidden door on the aircraft’s wall, retrieving a key and inserting it into the cockpit’s lock. Just as she pushed the door open, a powerful gust of wind forcefully swept in, carrying dozens of feather-like fragments, affecting not just first class but spreading to the rear cabin as well.
A deafening howl of wind filled the interior as if a storm had erupted in the cabin. Everyone struggled to breathe, and oxygen masks promptly deployed, creating a surreal feeling as if life had been sucked out of the cabin. The flight attendants, like the passengers, covered their hearts, faces devoid of color, desperately strapping themselves to the wall’s safety belts, adhering to emergency procedures.
The whole plane shook violently; the fuselage groaned under the strain. At this moment, even the most oblivious person understood something was severely wrong. The cabin became filled with desperate cries that almost overpowered the wild winds.
Bang! The flight attendant used every ounce of strength to slam the cockpit door shut, yet the turbulence persisted. The cabin was in disarray, shaking violently as if it might break apart at any moment.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize! It appears a bird has struck the cockpit, and there has been an incident with the pilots. Please remain calm! Everyone, please stay calm!” Upon the captain and co-pilot both experiencing an emergency, the head of the cabin crew instantly took on the captain’s responsibilities. Though she tried to maintain composure, her face was now completely ashen, revealing a deep shade of fear. Although the aircraft was still in autopilot mode, it might have already sent an emergency signal to the towers. Now, at an altitude above ten thousand meters, encountering a crash could lead to a descent, and should they drop into the turbulent layer, human intervention was crucial, as computers couldn’t replace human brains in dealing with unusual situations. Even a slight error at high altitudes could spell disaster.
Everyone now understood that the aircraft was out of control!
The flight attendant called out urgently, “Please remain calm!” finally managing to quell the hysterical uproar for a moment.
“We need to do three things!” Her voice was now hurried, filled with urgency, as the cabin started showing signs of depressurization, leading to potential altitude sickness.
“First, please put on your oxygen masks, tighten your seatbelts, and from now on, do not leave your seats. Passengers with glasses, please remove them and focus on breathing through your mouths with rhythmic swallowing.” Other flight attendants continued to carry out their responsibilities, stumbling to check on each passenger, helping them follow the instructions. These were commands—the cabin crew chief held the highest authority on board.
“Second, we will provide each one of you with a pen and paper. Please write down what you want to say; afterward, we will place these in a secure box.” This statement immediately prompted a wave of suppressed sobs throughout the cabin, with a few children bursting into tears. Everyone understood that encountering an emergency at high altitudes was far more dangerous than on the ground. This request felt like asking for last words, an arrangement for afterlife matters.
Pens and paper were promptly distributed. Everyone who received them took them quietly, many stifling their cries with their hands as they wrote, confronting death. No one felt superior in that moment; all remained eerily calm.
“Third, I need assistance! If anyone has experience flying an airplane and is physically capable, please stand up!” This last statement gave everyone in the cabin a glimmer of hope. The sound of pens scratching the paper abruptly ceased as everyone looked around, hoping someone among them had even the slightest flying knowledge, even if it was just a hobbyist—it offered a lifeline, like a frenzied scramble for a straw of hope.
A few who thought to take a chance were about to rise but quickly reconsidered the consequences of their rash actions, deflating like balloons. Lacking experience, their impulsiveness could only lead to disaster; even managing to withstand the fierce airflow in the cockpit would be challenging. No wonder the flight attendant specifically mentioned a need for strength—the consequences of recklessness could very well lead to catastrophe.
Silence, laden with tension, enveloped the cabin until a young male voice broke through.
“I want to give it a try!” Click! The sound of a seatbelt unlocking echoed as a young man in his early twenties stood up in the regular cabin.
“Is it you? Can you really do it?” A middle-aged man next to him, who had been consumed by despair, looked at the young man who had been engrossed in reading Middle School Physics with astonishment, as if there were an insurmountable gap between middle school physics and piloting a passenger plane.
All eyes turned on the young man, a mixture of hopelessness and expectation in their gazes, their expressions echoing the same doubtful tone as the middle-aged man.
“I think it shouldn’t be too difficult!” The young man smiled slightly, his expression different from everyone else’s, devoid of despair or fear—only confidence and calmness shone through.
“Great! There’s hope!” The cabin felt like a spring day, changing suddenly from stormy winds to clear skies. Regardless of the truth, it brought a glimmer of hope to everyone. They believed this young man must know something about flying; little did they know, that “knowledge” was far from what they assumed!
At this moment, they had no choice but to cling to a dying horse as if it still had life.
“Hello, may I ask what your name is?” The head flight attendant gazed at the young man eagerly, seeing him as an angel sent to save them from peril.
“Just call me Lin Mo!” The young man walked down the aisle towards the cockpit, appearing unfazed by the shaking of the plane, not needing to grip the nearby seats for balance, walking steadily as if on solid ground. The head flight attendant brightened, feeling a surge of confidence.
As Lin Mo approached, the head flight attendant explained urgently but clearly, “The cockpit window has likely shattered due to the bird strike, the pressure inside is very low, and it’s windy. When I open the door, you need to charge in and quickly put on an oxygen mask. First, check on the captain and the co-pilot. If they’re gone, take their places and sit in the pilot’s seat. Don’t press anything randomly; put on the captain’s headset and listen to the control tower’s instructions. Follow their commands on which buttons to press, and make sure to stabilize the joystick. If you can’t hold on, tell me immediately so I can find someone to relieve you!”
The head flight attendant provided detailed instructions, having already given up hope for the captain and co-pilot; the odds were grim for them as well.
