Rick’s mood suddenly darkened as his thoughts drifted to the next major event in his life. For Rick, the next two years would be a period of unimaginable sorrow, but also, a period of emancipating freedom. It started shortly before Christmas; one morning before his workday began, his father entered his office and announced.
“We are going to be spending the Christmas and New Year’s weeks at the house in Flagstaff. They are predicting a white Christmas this year. Your mother would really like it if you could join us. We are going to fly up there on the 22nd.”
It was not asked as a question; it was more like an order.
“Dad, I’ve got a lot of work on my desk. I have a bunch of lease renewals that I have to review, and we just received the contract on that parcel of land in Surprise that you want to buy. We are in the middle of preparing our application for a variance for the new shopping center on the Happy Valley Highway in Peoria. I can’t spend two weeks away from the office.”
After a few minutes thinking about his dilemma, Rick responded.
“I’ll work this weekend and long days next week; I should be able to drive up on Christmas Eve morning, spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve with you and mom and drive back New Year’s Day.”
“Good, your mother will be pleased.”
Miguel turned and returned to his office.
For the next seven days, Rick put in long hours at the office. On the morning of the 22nd, his father stuck his head into Rick’s doorway.
“Well, I’m off. I’m going home to pick up your mother and head out to the Scottsdale Airport. A storm front is approaching from California, and I want to get to Flagstaff before the first snowflakes start falling. How is everything going?”
Without waiting for a reply, he picked up his briefcase and vanished down the hall. Rick worked late that night and came in early the next morning. By noon time that day, he surveyed the desktop; everything that needed to be done was complete. He got up from his desk, visited all of the vice presidents and informed them that the company was closing promptly at two o’clock, wished all of his employees a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and returned to his desk, packed his briefcase, and was about to leave, when his phone rang.
“Hello, this is Rick Hernandez.”
“Mr. Hernandez, this is Captain John Winthers of the Flagstaff Police Department. I’m sorry to have to tell you this over the phone. Your company’s plane has crashed on its approach to the Flagstaff Airport.
“Oh my god! My mother and father were on that plane.”
“Mr. Hernandez, you have my sincerest condolences. I received a call at about 4:00 yesterday afternoon from the regional director of the FAA; he told me that a plane with call numbers matching those of the company’s plane, disappeared from radar on its approach to the airport. We were experiencing near blizzard conditions around that time. The storm seemed to come out of nowhere. No one was predicting such extreme weather for yesterday. We received over a foot of snow last night. We were finally able to get a helicopter up this morning. After a two-hour search of the area, they found the point of impact. The pilot told us that not much was left of the plane; it appears that the plane crashed at high speed, nose first into the side of the mountain. It’s in a very remote area; it’s going to take us awhile to get to the crash site.”
“Is there a possibility that they survived the crash?”
“There’s always a chance, but I would not want to give you a false sense of hope. The pilot said there was no indication that anyone got out alive. In his opinion we were already out of the rescue stage and that we should assume this is a recovery operation. I’m sorry, when we know more, we will contact you. I’m sorry.”
Rick was still holding the phone to his ear, when his assistant walked into his office to wish him a Merry Christmas. Hanging up the phone, his face ashen, he said, “Debbie, get everyone who is still here into the large conference room on the second floor; I’ll be down in a few minutes. Call an emergency meeting of the executive committee in my office, now!”
In less than three minutes all the Vice Presidents were gathered in Rick’s office. “I’m sorry; there is no other way to do this. I just received a call from the Flagstaff Police Department. Mom and Dad’s plane crashed yesterday on its approach to the airport. As far as they can determine there were no survivors.”
When they could finally get control of their emotions, he continued.
“I’ve had Debbie gather as many of our employees as she could find. They are waiting for me in the second-floor conference room. I want to tell them what we know and reassure them that the company will continue operations no matter what the final outcome of this tragedy. I suggest we shut down operations with pay for the rest of year; we will reopen January 2nd. Any comments or suggestions?”
“Rick, I’m so sorry for your loss. I think we should come in next week just to handle unexpected emergencies.”
You could have heard a pin drop when the five of them entered the conference room.
Rick greeted those employees huddled in the room.
“I didn’t want you to hear this on the news later. Our company plane crashed yesterday on its approach to the Flagstaff Airport; my parents were on that plane. At this time there is no indication that they survived the crash.” There was a collective gasp, and tears began to flow. “I want to assure you that the company will survive this. We will be shutting down for the rest of the year. You will all be paid your normal salaries for the time we are closed. We will reopen on January 2nd. The executive committee will be here next week to handle any emergencies. If you feel the need to come in, please feel free to do so, but I assure you that either way the decision is yours and no one will judge you in any way. Now, go home and be with your families.”
________________________
Three weeks later, Rick was in his new office, when the phone rang.
“This is Rick Hernandez.”
“Hello, Mr. Hernandez, this is Inspector Paul Manning from the FAA. I wanted to personally give you the results of our investigation of the crash.
The probable cause of the crash was “the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over the mountains during an extremely bad weather event, which was a result of spatial disorientation.” Your father was not qualified to fly his plane by “instruments only.” From interviews of various personnel at the airport we have determined that for whatever reason your father was over an hour behind his anticipated takeoff time. He was using a report of the anticipated weather conditions in the Flagstaff area that was not current. The mechanics report showed that the plane was fully fueled and in good shape prior to takeoff. We will never be able to determine if the crash was due to a mechanical problem, there was just not enough left.”
“Thank you, Mr. Manning, for all your help; it was the result of a lack of proper judgement by my father. He was a very stubborn man once he set his mind on a course of action.”