Northwest Airlines Flight 188 Radio Transmissions.wmv

A condensed audio recording of events involving Northwest Airlines Flight 188.

Air traffic controllers asked the Northwest Airlines pilots who overflew Minneapolis repeatedly about what had happened on the plane, according to transcripts released Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Oct. 21 flight had been out of contact for 77 minutes before controllers re-established contact. the pilots told them right away that they had been distracted, but didn't give details.

After almost 90 seconds of conversation about the route they should take to Minneapolis, the controllers said, "I just have to verify that the cockpit is secure."

"It is secure, we got distracted," one of the pilots responded. The transcript says the pilot then said that they never heard a call from the ground.

A different controller took over and, after five more minutes of directions about routes and altitudes, asked, "Do you have time to give a brief explanation on what happened?"

"Cockpit distractions that's all I can say," was the response from Northwest Flight 188.

About 12 minutes after contact had been re-established, the same controller asked, "is there any way you can elaborate on the distraction?"

The pilot said that they were dealing with some company issues, and "that's all all I can tell you right now at this time," according to the transcript.

Air traffic controllers ultimately had the pilots perform several turns to verify that they were in control of the plane. It landed safely in Minneapolis, and was met at the gate by police.

The transcripts also show controllers checking that the flight had enough fuel. The pilot responded that they had about two hours' worth of fuel on board and that it wasn't a concern.

The pilots have told the National Transportation Safety Board that they were discussing their company's complicated new crew-scheduling program over their laptop computers as their plane flew past Minneapolis by 150 miles. Northwest was bought by Delta Air Lines Inc. last year and the company has been working to integrate its computer systems.

Both pilots had their licenses suspended for overflying their destination, going 90 minutes With no radio contact The two pilots who flew 150 miles beyond their destination two weeks ago have filed an appeal to the revocation of their pilot certificates.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• FAA
• Northwest
• Airlines
• Flight
• 188
• pilot
• Minneapolis
• airport

[atom2009]

They were on the latop discussing their schedules then went to youtube watched a few videos then finished the flight on Flight Simulator.

[delise54]

I'd rather have Sulley flyin' any day ;)

[hammerogod]

un-fuc-ing-bee-leev-abe-ell



[bobduvar]

Welcome to Paris....oops sorry this is Frankfurt....We missed Paris.....

[stickdownheadup]

got to hand it to the pee wees in the stands... you are a little off on your knowledge and it shows

[TracyAndersonFoxhunt]

hey, give the Northwest guys a break, maybe the stew wasn't finished giving them a blow job

[logancody07]

It sounds an awful lot like when they should've been thinking they were dreaming instead. I was a professional pilot for over forty years. I can tell you the two things pilots like best is to get the aircraft into the air and then get it back down again, especially after a long trip. No one is going to tell me they were so distracted they neglected to plan the let down.

[michaelp711]

Awesome recordings. Nice to put things together for yourself, and yes...foolish for not answering, and heart stopping I can imagine for the controllers. You know some boss was over the shoulder of the controlling saying, 'ask him again why he overshot.'...wow, good stuff.

[AllanVictoriaA]

@AllanVictoriaA Ooops, didn't mean "fired", their licenses were revoked (as they should be!).