Part 2/11:
As Captain Benham arrived at the crew room, he met First Officer Paul AER, who, despite their lack of previous cooperation, quickly found common ground as they prepared for the flight. AER, an experienced pilot nearing 11,300 hours of flight time, was flying to Honolulu for only the second time. Both pilots performed their pre-flight checks and safely completed a briefing with the cabin crew, setting the stage for a smooth takeoff with 364 passengers onboard.
The Boeing 777—a magnificent aircraft—was equipped with Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines noted for their large diameter fans, designed for fuel efficiency. Yet, unbeknownst to the flight crew, one of the fan blades bore a hidden flaw that would soon threaten the lives of everyone onboard.