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Cockpit Recorder No Help in Northwest Flight Probe

Device captures just half an hour; record of 78-minute gap lost

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 23, 2009 3:30 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Because the aircraft has an old cockpit voice recorder, the world may never know why the pilots of Northwest Flight 188 lost contact with ground control for 78 minutes. The recorder on the Airbus A320 has a maximum memory of 30 minutes, after which it tapes over itself. So investigators can listen only to the last half-hour of the flight—after the pilots has re-established contact with air traffic controllers and gotten back on course.

Delta, owner of Northwest, has suspended the pilots pending multiple investigations, the Wall Street Journal reports. Meanwhile, Air National Guard F-16s in Wisconsin were ready to shoot the plane out of the sky on NORAD's orders. "As a force of last resort, NORAD is always prepared to do whatever is necessary," a rep for the defense agency tells ABC News.

The flight recorders from Northwest flight 188, are displayed at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) headquarters in Washington, Friday.
The flight recorders from Northwest flight 188, are displayed at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) headquarters in Washington, Friday.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
The Cockpit Voice Recorder from Northwest flight 188, is displayed at the NTSB headquarters in Washington, Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 in Washington.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder from Northwest flight 188, is displayed at the NTSB headquarters in Washington, Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
pg13
Oct 24, 2009 9:29 AM CDT
Newser, are you writing your own articles now? No links?
bewilderbeast
Oct 24, 2009 8:35 AM CDT
Hard to believe these people can't (don't want to????) upgrade their flight recorders? 30mins recording time!! Is this 70's technology? Isn't it tIme for a major expose of all that's wrong with air travel? If this IS cynical manipulation (as @cochiserocks below suggest) I hope this REALLY explodes in Northwest's face, BIG TIME.
JonmarkP
Oct 24, 2009 2:30 AM CDT
Always good to know that NORAD is ready to shoot a civilian airliner out of the sky without a second's thought. Tell me again how people within Government "would never" cause something as tragic as 9/11? Jesus you people are gullible.

 
Wisconsin • FAA • Delta Air Lines • Northwest Airlines • San Diego • NTSB • pilot • Minneapolis airport • pilot fatigue • Air National Guard • airlines • F-16 • NORAD

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