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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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 RUNAWAY PLANE 
16

FAA Revokes Northwest Pilots' Licenses

Distracted duo have 10 days to appeal

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(Newser) – The distracted pilots of Northwest Airlines Flight 188 are no longer pilots: the FAA today announced it has revoked the licenses of Timothy Cheney, 53, and Richard Cole, 54, for the incident last week in which the pair overshot their destination airport by 150 miles. The pilots, who attributed the gaffe to being on their laptops, have 10 days to appeal.

In this image released by FlightAware.com, the flight path of Northwest Flight 188 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 is shown.
In this image released by FlightAware.com, the flight path of Northwest Flight 188 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 is shown.   (AP Photo/FlightAware.com)
The Minneapolis skyline rises through the rain as an arriving Northwest Airlines jet taxis at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Friday, Oct. 23, 2009.
The Minneapolis skyline rises through the rain as an arriving Northwest Airlines jet taxis at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Friday, Oct. 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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16 comments
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Netstorm2k9
Oct 27, 09 4:44 PM CDT
Knew that was coming from the moment the story was first announced. Only possible response, or the government looks weak. Can't stick out that much, or they have to crop you. Reply
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+2
JoeQ
Oct 27, 09 4:45 PM CDT
Gosh. You could almost get the impression that the FAA is on the job. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
RockyPneumonia
Oct 27, 09 11:11 PM CDT
Do you have any evidence -- and an overwhelming need to appear cynical and cool is not "evidence" -- that the FAA is not on the job?
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
JoeQ
Oct 27, 09 11:30 PM CDT
Seriously. If the FAA makes a big deal about the two pilots here, just because of the huge press coverage, when they have to know that their byzantine rules on pilot fatigue are outmoded and out of date and they themselves plan on updating them soon ... they they are acting in a manner that is purely political, and damaging the lives of the two pilots just for a minor political advantage. Why sympathize for slimy bureaucrats like that?
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+2
SPH
Oct 27, 09 5:01 PM CDT
Timothy Cheney?....I wonder where that fits on that dysfunctional family tree......... Reply
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+1

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