Michael had heard enough to understand that the matter was becoming more complicated.
"Sir, does this involve someone from management?"
"It might."
Daniel closed the folder.
"That's why I don't want anyone making assumptions."
Emily returned with a written statement.
"Mr. Brooks, I've completed my report."
Daniel accepted the document.
"Thank you."
She hesitated.
"There's something else I think you should know."
"Go ahead."
"About three weeks ago, Captain Whitmore was involved in another passenger incident. A woman was asked to leave a premium seat after she questioned a last-minute change."
Daniel looked at her.
"Was the change documented?"
"I'm not sure. I was not responsible for the booking, but I remember that the woman had a confirmed seat."
"Did she leave the aircraft?"
"Yes."
"Was she compensated?"
"I don't know."
Daniel nodded.
"Please include that in your report, but make sure you distinguish what you personally witnessed from what you heard from other people."
Emily nodded.
"I will."
Daniel looked toward the cabin.
The passengers were still waiting.
He knew the airline would need to make a decision soon.
But before that happened, he wanted one thing clarified.
He stood up and walked toward the galley.
Michael followed at a respectful distance.
Whitmore was standing beside Robert Hayes.
The captain looked up as Daniel approached.
"Mr. Brooks."
Daniel stopped a few feet away.
"I have one more question."
Robert nodded.
"Of course."
Daniel looked directly at Whitmore.
"Did you know who I was before you entered the cabin?"
Whitmore shook his head.
"No."
"Then why did you ask to remove me?"
The captain hesitated.
"I had received information about a passenger profile."
"What information?"
"I can't remember the exact wording."
"Then perhaps you should check."
Whitmore looked at Robert.
Robert folded his arms.
"Captain, I think that's a reasonable request."
Whitmore exhaled.
He took out his phone.
After a few moments, he opened his messages.
He scrolled through several conversations.
Then he stopped.
His expression changed.
Daniel noticed it immediately.
"What did you find?"
Whitmore locked the phone.
"Nothing important."
Robert stepped forward.
"Captain, please don't conceal information relevant to an official review."
Whitmore looked uncomfortable.
"I received a message from Mr. Collins."
Daniel remained still.
"What did it say?"
Whitmore looked down.
"It said there might be a sensitive passenger on the flight."
"What else?"
The captain hesitated.
"It said I should be careful."
Daniel waited.
Whitmore finally continued.
"It said that if the passenger created any difficulty, I should remove him before departure."
Silence.
Robert looked at him.
"Did the message identify the passenger?"
Whitmore did not answer.
Daniel's voice was quiet.
"Did it identify me?"
Whitmore swallowed.
"Yes."
Daniel looked toward Michael.
The first officer appeared stunned.
Robert took out his own phone.
"Captain, I need you to preserve that message immediately."
Whitmore nodded reluctantly.
Daniel looked at him.
"So you knew who I was."
The captain shook his head quickly.
"I didn't know your full position."
"But you knew my name."
"Yes."
"And you were told to remove me if I created difficulty."
Whitmore looked down.
"Yes."
Daniel paused.
"Did I create any difficulty?"
The captain said nothing.
Robert took a breath.
"Captain, I think we've established enough for the preliminary report."
Daniel turned toward him.
"I would like the airline to investigate the person who sent that message as well."
"Absolutely."
"Not just the captain."
"Understood."
Daniel looked back toward Whitmore.
"Because if someone in management believes they can instruct employees to remove passengers without a legitimate reason, then the problem is larger than one person."
Whitmore lowered his eyes.
For the first time, the captain seemed to understand the full weight of what he had done.
He had not simply shouted at a passenger.
He had acted on an instruction without checking whether it was appropriate.
And he had done so in front of dozens of witnesses.
Robert escorted Whitmore toward the front of the aircraft.
The captain did not resist.
Michael returned to the first-class cabin.
Daniel sat down again.
Emily approached him.
"Sir, may I get you something to drink?"
"Water would be lovely, thank you."
"Of course."
She returned moments later with a glass.
Daniel thanked her and placed it on the small table.
He looked out the window.
The aircraft was still at the gate, but the ground crew had begun preparing for the next stage of the departure process.