Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Northwest Pilots Were Working on Laptops: NTSB

Captain, first officer deny falling asleep in cockpit

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2009 3:12 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – The pilots of the Northwest flight that wandered 150 miles past its destination were working on their personal laptops in the cockpit, a violation of company policy. The two denied falling asleep and could hear the radio when they fell out of communication with ground personnel, they told NTSB investigators yesterday. The flight attendants on the runaway plane are being interviewed today, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

During "a concentrated period of discussion," captain Timothy Cheney and first officer Richard Cole said, "they did not monitor the airplane or calls from [the air traffic controllers] even though both stated they heard conversation on the radio," according the the NTSB report released today. "Neither pilot was aware of the airplane's position until a flight attendant called about 5 minutes before they were scheduled to land."

A Northwest Airlines plane taxis as another lifts off at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis in this 2005 file photo.
A Northwest Airlines plane taxis as another lifts off at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis in this 2005 file photo.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
A Northwest Airlines plane lands with downtown Minneapolis in the background at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport, April 14, 2009.
A Northwest Airlines plane lands with downtown Minneapolis in the background at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport, April 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Andy King, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
Reader372
Oct 28, 2009 10:45 AM CDT
THEY WERE SLEEPING, MY SON IS A PILOT AND HE TELLS ME IT'S DONE ALL THE TIME. PROBLEM IS THE ONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY AWAKE DOZED OFF. WOULD BOTH OF THEM SPEND AN HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES ON THEIR LAPTOPS WITH NO HEADPHONES ON? THEY LIED, THEY'RE TOAST !!
cochiserocks
Oct 27, 2009 12:00 PM CDT
It is kind of nuts that everyday we trust our lives to bus drivers, cab drivers, train drivers, pilots without ever knowing how good or bad they are at their jobs, or even if they're really taking it as seriously as we would take driving a car everyday.
I_hate_to_say
Oct 27, 2009 3:20 AM CDT
Nice stuff, folks. I needed sum yuks. ;- )
Money • US

 
Iraq • Northwest Airlines • aviation • air travel • Minneapolis airport • laptop

More Newser Stories

Russia Now World's Most Dangerous Nation to Fly

New Ash Cloud Heads Towards UK

Detroit Bomber Bought Return Ticket

All Flyers From 14 Nations to Be Patted Down

Incident on Northwest Flight 'Nonserious': Feds
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne