Flight to You Episode 11 Recap
> Flight to You Recap
After her shift, Cheng Xiao happily planned to treat her parents to dinner, but she received a call from Jia's Real Estate, discovering that her mother had unilaterally listed the house she had diligently saved to buy. Cheng Xiao immediately confronted her mother at home. Her mother asserted her maternal authority, insisting Cheng Xiao sell the house and return to Qingdao.
Cheng Xiao adamantly refused, declaring she left Qingdao to distance herself from her mother and would rather be homeless than go back. Enraged, her mother left for the train station, threatening her father to come along or never return to Qingdao himself. Cheng Xiao’s father apologized for her mother’s actions. Heartbroken, Cheng Xiao explained that she had been planning to surprise him by renovating the house and inviting him to stay.
He comforted her, agreeing to visit alone after the renovation. To prevent further arguments, her father decided to stay at a hotel near the train station, urging Cheng Xiao to take care of herself and to confide in him if she faced any difficulties. The next morning, Cheng Xiao, feeling dejected, initially told the real estate agent to keep the house listed, saying she would decide later based on offers.
Shortly after, Gu Nanting appeared, confronting her about blocking his number. When she feigned an accidental button press, Gu Nanting informed her she could return to the Flight Department. Overjoyed, Cheng Xiao exclaimed her "engine was about to fail" while in Ground Handling, to which Gu Nanting wryly reminded her of her ability to recover from a double-engine failure. He instructed her to pick up her flight schedule the next morning.
Ecstatic, Cheng Xiao immediately called the agent to withdraw the listing for her house. She then shared the good news with her father, who congratulated her warmly. Back at the Flight Department, Cheng Xiao received a demanding flight schedule. Gu Nanting assured her the schedule was designed to guarantee sufficient rest, but also required her to keep meticulous flight records. Eager to make up for lost time, Cheng Xiao vowed to comply.
Gu Nanting explained he had deliberately assigned her to different captains to foster her adaptability, warning that these captains would also act as his "eyes and ears," reporting any missteps that could lead to immediate suspension. He expressed his expectation for her to quickly become a mature captain, proving that female pilots could be equally outstanding. Cheng Xiao confidently replied that she would strive for even greater excellence.
Their conversation was cut short when Xu Ce called Gu Nanting away, leaving Cheng Xiao curious. Later, Xu Ce revealed to Gu Nanting that while the public relations department had removed the video of his altercation with a passenger, the negative impact remained. Gu Nanting apologized for mishandling the situation.
Xu Ce then announced Gu Nanting's suspension from his position as Deputy Director of the Flight Department, though he would retain his role as a pilot instructor and continue his flight duties, with Jiang Tao temporarily assuming his responsibilities. Meanwhile, Lin Yicheng visited his brother-in-law, Jiang Tao, and mentioned the widespread discussion about Gu Nanting's incident and the Flight Department's unanimous support for him.
Jiang Tao sternly advised Lin Yicheng to stop gossiping and confirmed Gu Nanting's removal from his post. Distraught, Gu Nanting secluded himself at home, ignoring calls. Ni Zhan visited, finding him drinking heavily. Ni Zhan advised Gu Nanting that the title of Deputy Director was not essential and that he was ill-suited for a bureaucratic career path. Gu Nanting admitted that individual excellence was insufficient; the industry needed a continuous succession of outstanding captains, which required a superior system.
He confessed that for the past two years, he had dedicated himself to perfecting the operating manual, but now, suspended, he felt his goals slipping away. Ni Zhan pointed out that while Gu Nanting might dismiss the title, the position itself was crucial for realizing his ambitions, making it a path of "no retreat." He suggested the temporary suspension might be a chance for Gu Nanting to relax from his intense self-pressure, but Gu Nanting responded that he couldn't.
Ni Zhan’s words triggered a memory for Gu Nanting, flashing back to their university days in 2010. He and Ni Zhan were playing basketball when Ni Zhan introduced his cousin, Luo Yi. Luo Yi immediately expressed her admiration for Gu Nanting, later admitting she had transferred to their university specifically for him.
In a video call, Luo Yi, then an exchange student in San Diego, excitedly showed Gu Nanting a green plant she sent, dreaming of a future home filled with greenery. She mentioned her upcoming solo flight, a graduation requirement that made her nervous. Gu Nanting offered to fly to the U. S. to support her. He reassured her, revealing he had already submitted her internship application to Luzhou Airlines and arranged for his own mentor to guide her.
The day before her flight, Luo Yi told Gu Nanting she wasn't nervous knowing he would be watching. He replied that he had meticulously designed her flight path and they "must take a picture together." During her solo flight, Luo Yi flew too low. The investigation revealed she had violated rules by flying at a low altitude, where she encountered sudden air turbulence.
Her improper operation—pulling the stick too quickly—caused the plane to stall, and despite a recovery attempt, it was too late. In the present, Gu Nanting recalled his inconsolable grief and overwhelming guilt. He explained to Ni Zhan that the meticulous Luo Yi must have flown low to prove to him how quickly she was improving. He believed if he hadn't been there or agreed to her changing the flight path, the accident wouldn't have happened.
He revealed that after her death, he swore that all pilots under his watch would strictly adhere to flawless procedures. He had dedicated his entire being to building this system, but now felt his efforts were stalled. Ni Zhan reassured him that his hard work would not be in vain. Later, Song Song brought a specially made "motivation-boosting" bento to Gu Nanting, who asked him to continue helping organize safety documents, offering payment.
Song Song refused the money, stating the assistance was part of his learning. While flying with Captain Xie Zetian, Song Song casually mentioned Gu Nanting's suspension to Cheng Xiao. Shocked, Cheng Xiao defended Gu Nanting, arguing he shouldn't take the blame for the passenger's actions. After landing, she couldn't reach Gu Nanting by phone and, worried the blow might cause the constantly tense man to "break," she found him running at a track.
She playfully poured out his water, urging him to stop "torturing himself" and blaming herself for his suspension. Gu Nanting calmly corrected her, stating he would have acted the same for anyone and was merely training for a half marathon. When she warned him against internalizing his problems, he changed the subject, reminding her to meticulously record her flight data and send it to him for review, stating that her performing well was his greatest comfort.
