Oct 26, 2009

Wayward Northwest pilots say they were on laptops

Two Northwest pilots at the controls of Flight 188 that missed the Minneapolis airport last Wednesday said in interviews they were not fatigued and didn't fall asleep.

They told federal investigators they were looking at schedules on their laptop computers.

Were they grasping for an excuse? The use of laptop computers in the cockpit is prohibited.

The NTSB said the pilots told investigators the first officer was instructing the captain on monthly flight crew scheduling.

First it was arguing with themselves and members of the flight crew. Then it was using prohibited laptops. Will “the dog ate my homework” be next. Our favorite is: they were napping.

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