‘Missing’ pilots were using laptops
27th October 2009
Two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot their destination by over 240km (150 miles) were using their laptops in the cockpit
Two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot their destination by over 240km (150 miles) were using their laptops in the cockpit.
The flight from San Diego, with 144 passengers on board, overshot Minneapolis-St Paul International airport, prompting fears that the plane had been hijacked.
The pilots didn’t respond to air traffic control calls for an hour, leading to National Guard fighters being put on standby in case of a hijack.
It was a member of the flight crew who alerted the pilots to their mistake by asking about their estimated time of arrival five minutes before they were due to land.
When they realised their mistake they asked for permission to turn around and landed without incident.
Rumours subsequently circulated that the pilots were asleep or involved in a heated argument as they missed their descent.
However, at a hearing the pilots claimed ‘cockpit distraction’ was the reason for the error. “Both said they lost track of time” while looking at flight schedules on their laptops, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report.
The use of laptops is forbidden on Northwest’s flight decks.
Both pilots have been suspended by the airline, pending the outcome of the investigation.
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