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Airline Warned of Runway Glitch Before Buffalo Crash
By Harry Kimball
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Posted Feb 19, 09 5:51 PM CST
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(Newser)
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Add this to the mix in the Buffalo plane crash: Southwest Airlines warned its pilots just weeks ago about a landing glitch involving the same runway the Continental flight was destined for, CNN reports. It seems an earthen dam near the runway interferes with signals in a so-called instruments landing, used during low visibility. The glitch could cause a plane's nose to pitch upward, generally consistent with the Buffalo circumstances.
The FAA and the NTSB both say they are aware of the warning—Southwest called it a "potentially significant hazard"—but aren't commenting further. Investigators of late have been leaning toward pilot error—perhaps an overcorrection to the plane's moves while on autopilot, notes the New York Times.