Chapter 6 - Touchdown and Triage
The tires of Flight 101 met the concrete of Runway 34-Right with a definitive, heavy thud and a loud chirp of burning rubber. Ethan immediately deployed the thrust reversers, the engines roaring in defiance as they redirected their power forward, slowing the massive aircraft down the long expanse of the runway.
Instead of the usual, leisurely taxi toward the terminal, Ethan guided the plane along the tarmac with calculated speed, following the directions of the ground controller who had cleared all other traffic out of their path.
Looking out the cockpit window, Ethan could see the flashing red and blue lights of emergency vehicles waiting at Gate C24. Two ambulances, a fire engine, and three airport police cruisers were positioned, their lights painting the concrete in rhythmic patterns of urgency.
The moment the aircraft came to a complete stop at the gate and the jetbridge bumped against the fuselage, Ethan shut down the engines. The checklist was completed in record time.
"I've got the shutdown logs, Captain," Marcus said, unbuckling his harness. "Go see to your girl."
Ethan didn't wait. He threw open the cockpit door just as the main cabin door was opened from the outside. Two paramedics, carrying heavy trauma bags, rushed into the first-class cabin, guided by Rachel.
"Over here," Rachel said, directing them to seat 1D.
Ethan stood back, forcing himself to let the professionals work. He watched as the lead paramedic, a woman with a calm, efficient demeanor, knelt beside Molly.
"Hi, sweetie. My name’s Sarah. We’re going to help make that burn feel better, okay?" Sarah said, gently assessing the injuries. She looked up at Ethan, recognizing the captain's uniform. "Are you the father?"
"Yes," Ethan said, his voice thick with emotion. "It was black coffee. About forty-five minutes ago. We’ve been applying cold compresses and burn gel."
"You did the right thing," Sarah said, prepping an IV line to administer pain management. "The blisters are intact, which is good, but the skin is severely compromised. We’re going to transport her to the Children’s Hospital Burn Unit immediately for specialized treatment."
As they loaded Molly onto a specialized transport gurney, two heavily armed airport police officers stepped onto the aircraft, followed by a man in a dark suit who identified himself as a duty supervisor for the Transportation Security Administration.
"Captain Bennett?" the TSA supervisor asked.
Ethan nodded, pointing toward the back of the plane. "Row 9. Passenger Cynthia Vale. I have multiple witnesses who state she intentionally or through gross negligence caused the injury, and subsequently created a disturbance that interfered with the safety of the flight crew."
May you like
"We'll take it from here, Captain," the officer said, walking down the aisle toward the economy cabin.
Ethan walked alongside the paramedics as they wheeled Molly out of the aircraft and through the jetbridge. As they entered the crowded terminal, the passengers from Flight 101, who were waiting to deplane, began to applaud—not for the smooth landing, but for the father who had flown them down to safety while his own world was falling apart.
