Chapter 401: For the first time in history! Airspace is banned! Global emergency landing!
It was late at night in Tokyo, Japan, but there were still several brightly lit rooms in the upper part of the ANA headquarters building, including the office of President Guan Yueling.
In her office, Managing Director Rinhe Kamikawa can overlook the bustling Ginza business district through the huge glass windows of the office. The tallest and widest LED screen is playing footage of Xu Cang's hearing.
Under the LED screen, a large number of protesters gathered together, holding signs, but because the distance was too far, the content of the signs and slogans could not be seen clearly.
However, without seeing it clearly, Kamikawa Linhe could basically guess what happened.
"I heard that Xu Cang used the Tokyo Tower as an example at the hearing, and used the example of hijacking a plane to crash into the Tokyo Tower. Apart from other things, I admire him very much for his example, he really dares to say anything." Shangchuan Linhe laughed, and his eyes fell on Guan Yueling who was still sitting: "President, it seems that you have said before that Xu Cang may be able to turn the situation around, but this does not seem to have happened. Moreover, according to Xu Cang's remarks at the hearing, the negative impact is even worse than before, and many people have petitioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to put Xu Cang on the immigration blacklist. The public sentiment is surging, the public sentiment is surging."
On the sofa in the corner, independent director Sato Nozomi drooped his eyelids. He couldn't stay up late at night when he was old, and he began to feel sleepy when the time came. However, after hearing what Kawabayashi said, Sato Nozomi couldn't help but agree with him: "Yes, so you had some unrealistic fantasies about Xu Cang before. Public opinion can be guided, but it is also the most unpredictable . What's more, you said that Xu Cang might turn public opinion around. This kind of ability to make clouds and rain with a flip of the hand is simply not something that people of his status have."
As he spoke, Sato Nozomi raised his finger and pointed at Kamikawa Hayashi, "Director Kamikawa is still a clear thinker. He should cut ties with Xu Cang as soon as possible and sever cooperation with Spring Airlines. Only then will ANA not be affected by this incident."
What Sato Nozomi mentioned was that some of the flight attendants who were training at ANA were frightened by some radical elements when they went out. After returning to ANA, ANA refused to let them in and provide them with shelter, including Xia Shuyue.
This matter was handled by Shangchuan Linhe, who skipped Guanyue Ling and directly followed the wishes of the board of directors.
For this reason, Xu Cang hurried back from Europe and even broke with ANA on the spot.
Guan Yueling was quite dissatisfied with Shangchuan Linhe because of this. In her opinion, Xu Cang was very valuable and they should not turn against each other just because of this.
However, this also shows the huge differences between Guan Yueling and the board of directors on how to deal with the issue of Xu Cang.
However, as the hearing came to an end, Xu Cang's earth-shattering remarks at the meeting had already put an end to the disagreement, and Shangchuan Linhe, who represented the board of directors, had obviously won the final victory. At this moment, Shangchuan Linhe was very proud.
Guan Yueling's face was as gloomy as water. Her misjudgment in the matter of Xu Cang had already made her lose face in front of the board of directors. Now Shangchuan Linhe was very popular with the board of directors. Although she was not in danger of losing her position as president for the time being, this had indeed greatly reduced her points. The situation was indeed not good.
"Xu Cang, what are you doing?" Guan Yueling was confused. Xu Cang's performance at the hearing was simply too strong.
Before, Guan Yueling thought Xu Cang would just pretend to be soft and show weakness. After all, no matter what, Xu Cang was the number one hero who saved ANA Flight 45. Although some radicals and people with ulterior motives muddied the waters, as long as Xu Cang was willing to give in, most people would at least not be too hostile.
How come, as it is now, more and more people are agreeing to block Xu Cang from entering the country?
Shangchuan Linhe looked at Guan Yueling's face, which was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He was clear-headed and refreshed, and even acted like a spoiled child after getting an advantage: "President, there is no need to blame yourself. Although Xu Cang is arrogant, he still has some ability. At least on the Japan-US route, Xu Cang has made great efforts, haha."
Guan Yueling glanced at Shangchuan Linhe and said nothing, but that expression said it all.
"Although we have taken a crucial step on the Japan-US route, according to the agreement with Xu Cang, most of the route profits still have to be shared with Xu Cang. We cannot be complacent because of this. We must use this route as a breakthrough point to further promote the international route market."
"Of course. Japan Airlines and Air China are both vulnerable in the domestic market. We just need to focus on international routes." Rinhei Kamikawa said with a smile: "Japan Airlines is already in a state of decline. Perhaps in our hands, ANA will be able to overtake Japan Airlines."
In the eyes of Hayashi Kamikawa, Japan Airlines is now lacking an opportunity, an opportunity for a sudden collapse. Hayashi Kamikawa believes that Japan Airlines' failure in the international market is that opportunity.
He seemed to be able to smell ANA's promotion to the largest airline in Japan, no, in Asia.
Sato Nozomi was not as optimistic as Kamikawa Hayashi: "Hasn't Japan Airlines been pushing for a merger with Gaso Airlines? Is there any need for us to intervene?"
"Why intervene? It's just two weaklings banding together for warmth. The problems of Jiasu Airlines are no less serious than those of Japan Airlines. If Japan Airlines wants to merge with Jiasu Airlines, it will only be a temporary solution. By then, they will find that Jiasu Airlines is not a panacea to save them, but a vampire sucking the blood of Japan Airlines." Rinhei Kamikawa was very proud: "Why intervene? It will be better for us if the two companies merge! President, don't you agree?"
Guan Yueling was in a bad mood and didn't want to agree with Shangchuan Linhe's words, but she didn't want to make the situation too awkward at this time, so she just planned to say a few perfunctory words.
But at this moment, the office door was pushed open hastily, making a loud noise.
Sato Wang was a more traditional person. He was extremely annoyed by his subordinates' reckless behavior. He snorted coldly, "What are you doing? You're so flustered!"
The person who opened the door was none other than Guan Yueling's secretary.
Guan Yueling didn't care much about this, and just asked calmly: "What's wrong?"
The secretary panted and said anxiously, "President, the FAA just rejected our Los Angeles route plan for the next month, and American Airlines also informed us that it would suspend the operation of the joint venture route."
International routes like Japan and the United States need to submit plans to the civil aviation authorities . Once the FAA rejects it, the routes will have to be suspended for at least the next month. What's even worse is that American Airlines has directly suspended the joint venture routes without giving a resumption date.
"What? " The smug Rinhe Kamikawa's face changed drastically. "What do the FAA and American Airlines mean? Why are they suddenly like this?"
Not only Shangchuan Linhe, but Guan Yueling was also very puzzled. This made no sense at all.
"What happened?" Guan Yueling frowned.
The secretary took a deep breath and suppressed her pounding heart. "President, I just got the news that an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. American Airlines is now under review and all international routes have been suspended."
Kamikawa Linhe felt like his brain had lost its ability to think. He couldn't believe his ears. "American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the World Trade Center. Why?"
The secretary lowered his head: "The reason is not clear yet, but according to the information we have now, it is very likely that the plane was hijacked."
"The plane was hijacked... and crashed into the World Trade Center?" Kamikawa Linhe's lips were trembling, because didn't this unimaginable fact just fit a person's "arrogant words"?
If the World Trade Center could be hit, why couldn't the Tokyo Tower?
Not long ago, he was still mocking Xu Cang's thoughtless words. Isn't everything happening now the best commentary on his words?
Guan Yueling was so shocked that she was speechless. She really didn't expect that Xu Cang's words would come true.
Since it was an American Airlines plane, even if there was a strong suspicion that it was the work of hijackers, it would certainly not be able to escape the relevant investigations, so it is understandable that the joint operation routes would be suspended for some time in the future.
But the question is whether this investigation is conducted over a period of time or is continuous.
ANA has invested huge amounts in the Japan-US route, and it cannot just stop operating after just two days. Wouldn't that make all the initial investment go to waste?
"Has American Airlines told us the possible recovery time?" Guan Yueling asked anxiously.
"No, they didn't say." The secretary shook his head.
Rinhei Kamikawa changed his expression and spread his hands: "Let us wait aimlessly, then what about our initial investment? How much money will we lose? Doesn't American Airlines need to compensate for this?"
The secretary explained in a low voice: "Director Shangchuan, in the joint venture agreement between us and American Airlines, if the subsequent investigation proves that the hijacking has nothing to do with American Airlines, then the incident is extremely unpredictable and objective factors lead to American Airlines not being liable for compensation."
The muscles on Shangchuan Linhe's face twitched a few times, but he said nothing, like a volcano about to erupt.
After the secretary finished speaking, he turned to Guan Yueling and said, "President, there are far more problems now than just these."
Guan Yueling frowned: "What else?"
"According to the latest FAA directive, all flights in or to the United States must make an alternate landing. Our flight to the United States today was originally scheduled to make an alternate landing at Vancouver Airport, but Vancouver Airport is no longer accepting aircraft. The crew is reporting via satellite phone that fuel is running low and PANPAN has been declared. If a suitable alternate airport cannot be found later, MAYDAY may have to be declared."
The secretary said this and went over the details again.
At this moment, the three senior ANA executives in the office were all terrified.
The ANA flight to the United States was already approaching American airspace and had little fuel left. The sudden request to make an emergency landing nearby directly disrupted the crew's plan.
However, there were already alternate airports in the flight plan, and Vancouver Airport was the first alternate airport, and at that time Vancouver Airport was the closest to the plane.
However, after the first application for an alternate landing in Vancouver, Vancouver Airport responded that the aircraft slots were tight and that no alternate landings would be accepted except in emergencies.
At that time, although ANA's aircraft did not have much fuel, it was not enough to declare an emergency. Therefore, the crew chose to make an alternate landing at Halifax Airport under the advice of the control. As a result, during the diversion to Halifax Airport, Halifax Airport also announced that it would not accept the alternate landing. The airport was already overloaded and could not accept the aircraft even in an emergency.
This round trip consumed a lot of time in the air, and the crew had no choice but to return to Vancouver Airport and explain the situation.
The crew had originally planned to declare PANPAN if Vancouver Airport still did not accept the aircraft. However, after the communication was transferred to Vancouver Airport Control, the situation changed. Vancouver Airport received a large number of aircraft from Gander Airport in Newfoundland. Not only was there no parking space, but even the taxiways and runways were full of aircraft.
If Vancouver Airport were designed to handle its maximum capacity, it would now be operating 150 per cent over capacity.
The runway was full of planes. It was something I had never seen before, and I actually encountered it.
What's more, ANA's plane is a 747, which can't land at ordinary small airports. In the whole of Canada, only the top three airports, Vancouver Airport, Halifax Airport and Gander Airport, can land. Gander Airport is too far away, so it is directly ruled out.
There is barely enough fuel to go to Halifax, but the situation in Halifax is very similar to that in Vancouver. It's not that they don't want to accept the passengers, but that they really can't accept the passengers.
As a result, ANA's planes were caught in a dilemma.
Even though the secretary said that MAYDAY would be announced, even if MAYDAY was announced, there would be no room for the 747 to land.
"How much fuel is left on the plane now?" Guan Yueling asked.
"When we contacted them just now, there were only 20 minutes left." The secretary said, "We haven't contacted Halifax Airport yet, but the feedback from Vancouver Airport is that they will definitely not be able to clear a runway within 20 minutes."
Shangchuan Linhe's face turned pale: "What should we do?"
…
Just like ANA's destined sleepless night, the office of the director of JCAB headquarters, Nagashima Kenjiro, was also brightly lit.
In front of him, the head of air traffic control stood across an office desk, his face covered in cold sweat.
"From now on, every flight entering Japanese airspace must undergo safety verification." Nagashima Jianzhi said in a cold voice: "During the initial communication, the controller must check the license numbers of all personnel in the cockpit. If the crew cannot provide feedback, they cannot be allowed to enter our airspace. In addition, as long as there are any safety issues on board, they will not be allowed to enter the airspace."
The head of the air traffic control department sweated even more: "Director Changdao, is there any exception to this rule?"
"Exception?" Nagashima Jianzhi said coldly: "This is an order directly issued by Nagatacho. Do you think there are exceptions?"
However, Nagashima soon sensed the meaning behind the words of the air traffic controller: "What's the matter? Is there an accident?"
"Director." The head of the air traffic control department looked extremely unhappy. "Just now, CAAC informed us that a plane with a serious malfunction and personal injury to the crew was about to arrive in our airspace. If we follow the safety review regulations, then this plane..."
That’s right, according to what Nagashima Kenji just said, this plane will be included in the category of denied entry.
Changdao Jianzhi never expected that such a situation would actually occur: "What flight?"
The air traffic controller whispered, "Southwest Flight 3102!"
