Ethan's eyes narrowed. "5 minutes ago I was sir. Before that, I was you people. Now that you know my title, I'm Ethan." Halston stopped.
Ethan turned to Daniel. "Remove the entire operating crew from active duty effective immediately, and initiate termination under the misconduct provisions. Their access to Meridian flights ends now. Labor relations and HR can process whatever contractual review or grievance rights apply, but none of them will operate another company aircraft while that process is pending. Claire stared at him.
You're firing all of us? Ethan answered calmly. I'm terminating the crew that collectively certified a safety threat none of you could describe. Halston opened his mouth again. Ethan cut him off.
You were given three chances to verify the facts before the door closed. You refused all three. Daniel nodded to Evelyn. The crew's credentials were flagged inactive for company operations. Whatever formal employment procedures followed would happen through HR and labor relations.
Their authority over aircraft 214 ended at gate 24. Claire stood frozen for a moment. If we had known you were the CEO, this never would have happened. Ethan looked at her. I know.
She seemed confused. That is exactly why it had to end this way. He pointed toward the terminal. The businessman beside me wasn't asked how he bought his ticket. The couple ahead of me wasn't treated as suspicious.
My reservation cleared every check, and every time the evidence said I belonged, you invented a new reason to doubt me. First the ticket, then my attitude, then safety. Claire tightened her grip on her bag. Ethan's voice remained quiet. The problem isn't that you failed to recognize someone important.
The problem is that you believed someone you thought was unimportant could be treated this way. Claire had no answer. Halston looked toward the aircraft. I've flown safely for 15 years. Ethan nodded.
Then, you should know how serious a false safety record is. I made a judgment call. You refused every tool designed to improve your judgment. Halston said nothing. You could have checked the manifest.
You didn't. You could have called operations, you didn't. You could have listened to Sophie, you silenced her. Then you asked people who witnessed nothing to make your assumption look unanimous. Halston's shoulders lowered.
Daniel instructed the crew to collect their personal belongings. One by one, they walked back through the jet bridge. Minutes earlier, that door had been closed to keep Ethan out. Now it remained open so the crew that denied him could leave. There was no applause.
Ethan did not want one. Sophie stood behind the gate desk looking shaken. Ethan walked toward her. "Mr. Caldwell, I'm sorry." "For what?"
"I should have stopped them." "You were the only person who tried." Sophie looked at the archived record. "I still changed your status when the captain ordered me to." "And you preserved the original evidence when everyone above you was trying to replace facts with a conclusion."
Daniel looked at Sophie's note again. "Without this, the final record would have made the safety concern appear legitimate from the beginning." Sophie nodded. "That's why I saved it." Ethan asked, "Why did you think that mattered?"
She hesitated. "Because the more the system proved you were supposed to board, the more they started talking about your attitude instead. I knew something was wrong." Ethan nodded. "Make sure her actions are included in the compliance report," he told Daniel.