Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Pilots used laptop computers while straying off course  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pilots used laptop computers while straying off course
 
 
  
 
 AFP - Tuesday, October 27
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 File photo shows a Northwest Airlines jet at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in Minnesota. Two distracted US pilots were using laptop computers against company rules last week when they overshot their destination by some 150 miles (240 kilometers), federal investigators said.
 
 
 
 
 Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Personal Technology
 
 
 
 
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Two distracted US pilots were using laptop computers against company rules last week when they overshot their destination by some 150 miles (240 kilometers), federal investigators said.
 
The pilot, 53, and co-pilot, 54, both experienced fliers with 20,000 and 11,000 hours of flight time under their belt, were questioned for five hours by National Transportation Safety Board officials seeking an explanation to the unusual mistake.
 
On October 21, a Northwest Airline Airbus A320 from San Diego, California with 147 passengers and five crew was expected to land at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, but instead grossly overshot it before air-traffic controlers managed to regain contact.
 
The pilots, with no record of accidents, incidents, violations or medical problems, told NTSB they were not tired at the time and did not have a heated discussion, as media reports had indicated at first.
 
They said they were in "a concentrated period of discussion" at cruising altitude and did not monitor the airplane or the calls from air-traffic control, even though they both said they heard the radio, the NTSB said in a statement.
 
The pilots even ignored calls from their company -- Delta Airline, which owns Northwest -- and were using their laptops against company rules while discussing their new work schedules under the company merger.
 
"Both said they lost track of time," investigators said.
 
They were oblivious to what was happening when, five minutes before their scheduled landing, a flight attendant called on the intercom to ask when the plane would land.
 
Only then did the pilots realize their blunder and contact air-traffic control in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to redirect their flight back to their destination.
 
Normally, landing procedures in a commercial flight begin at least 125 miles (200 kilometers) before the destination, NTSB experts said.
 
Passengers aboard Northwest flight 188 were unaware of what was happening, although some witnesses later said they thought the flight was taking longer than usual.
 
They knew something was up when, upon landing, armed police and investigators came on board the flight before they were allowed to deplane.
 
The pilots' explanation was confirmed by preliminary data from a half-hour recording from the plane's cockpit voice recorder, NTSB said.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
Pilots used laptop computers while straying off course AFP - Tuesday, October 27
 
Facebook users protest home page changes AFP - Tuesday, October 27
 
Yahoo! shuts down GeoCities AFP - Tuesday, October 27
 
New owners take control of Chicago Sun-Times AFP - Tuesday, October 27
 
T-Mobile USA unveils no-contract option Reuters - Tuesday, October 27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
Polanski victim calls for dismissal of case
German tax cut gamble meets wall of scepticism
Spain's Opel workers accept Magna job cuts plan
Barclays snaps up Standard Life Bank division
Euro hits fresh 14-month highs against dollar
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Full Coverage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personal TechnologyMobile phones & personal gadgets
 
 
 
 
 
 All Full Coverage »
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
Thousands eat breakfast on Sydney Harbour Bridge
 
Recession or not? US economy likely to be in limbo
 
Sean Penn arrives in Cuba to interview Fidel Castro
 
Madoff associate Picower found dead: police
 
Obama declares swine flu emergency
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
Boyzone singer Gately dies in Spain
 
Mobile phone giant Nokia sues Apple over patents
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Tuesday, 27 October 2009 Iran hints it could ship some uranium abroad  
Seven dead in building collapse in Spain's Majorca  
Iraq renews call for U.N. probe after Baghdad bombings
| International
|  
US-TECH Summary  
Spain's Opel workers accept Magna job cuts plan  
Barclays snaps up Standard Life Bank division  
Euro hits fresh 14-month highs against dollar  
Iran hints at acceptance of atom deal with powers
| International
|  
Iran says two nuclear fuel options still on table  
Karzai dismisses election rival's ultimatum
| International
|  
Iraqis angry at security lapse, bombs kill 155  
Karadzic shuns war crimes trial, court to proceed
| International
|  
Egypt widower testifies in German court slaying trial
| International
|  
Iraq wants U.N. probe after Baghdad bombings  
Afghan chopper crashes kill 14 Americans  
Kremlin warns against wrecking Russia with democracy
| International
|  
Iraqis mourn, blame politics for Baghdad blasts  
Netflix movie streaming coming to PlayStation 3  
Saudi king pardons reporter sentenced to 60 lashes
| International
|  
Pakistan says detains 11 Iranian Guards on the border
| International
|  
Ex-guerrilla faces close run-off in Uruguay election
| International
|  
Blaming Israel, Palestinians say no talks soon  
Yemen starts trial of rebel leader in absentia
| International
|  
Busy U.S. cell networks a bonanza for gear makers
| Technology
|  
AP IMPACT: Statisticians reject global cooling  
Judge tosses verdicts against infomercial pair  
Trick or treat? Iconic Necco wafers go all-natural  
Rainy, cloudy weather could stall NASA test flight  
White Sox make pitch for business with tech unit
| Technology
|  
Mass. man says Brazilian husband denied US asylum  
Detained Web site owner is released in Sri Lanka  
Developing countries must boost broadband: U.N.
| Technology
|  
U.S. Pays $105 Million Benefits To 11,000 Filipino Vets  
MN family wants court out of son's cancer case  
Parents Warned On Choking Hazard Of "My Baby Soother" Pacifiers  
FBI, police rescue 52 kids in prostitution probes  
Criminal Probe Launched In Alleged Student Beating By San Jose Police  
More than half of Chinese 'don't want swine flu shot'  
Correction: Obama-Presidential Unit Citation story  
Jury selection begins in first polygamist trial  
Healthcare in U.S. wastes up to $800 billion a year  
Japanese solar car leads race Down Under  
Madoff Investor Found Dead In Palm Beach Pool  
FBI Raids Rescue 50 Minors From Prostitution Rings  
Thai police arrest suspect in Aussie ring heist  
Sri Lankan committee to answer abuse allegations  
Toxicology Expert: Poisoning Of Harvard University Scientists "No Accident"  
Ahead In Polls, Bloomberg Breaks Fundraising Records To Become Nation's Top Spender  
America beats Guadalajara in first game shown in 3D
| Technology
|  
Pakistan kills 19 militants in border offensive  
Pakistanis battle Taliban after diversionary raid  
Maine Conservatives, Advocates Make Final Push For Gay Marriage Referendum  
Philadelphia Transit Union Votes Unanimously To Authorize Strike; May Threaten World Series Transit  
Twitter entries satirize works of literature
| Technology
|  
T-Mobile Announces "Contract-Free" Mobile Plans  
Tata Motors quarterly profit more than doubles  
Tata Motors doubles profit in India  
Japan's Yamaha president resigns  
India's Ranbaxy posts profit despite US import ban  
China portal Sohu quarterly profit down 15 percent  
India's BSNL says Zain stake price too high: report  
Pakistani stocks end 2.4 pct higher; rupee flat  
NZ PM concerned over kiwi strength, can do little  
Madonna launches Malawi school construction  
SKorea's economy grows at fastest pace in 7 years  
Sony says US unit being probed by US authorities  
DJ Z-Trip lends scratches to 'DJ Hero' video game  
'Wind of change', the anthem of 1989  
Shanghai luxury hotel market heats up  
Jay-Z talks World Series, Broadway and DJ Hero  
Sony, Netflix in deal to stream movies using PS3  
Mixed signals for Michael Jackson album sales
| Entertainment
|  
Madonna launches Malawi school construction
| Entertainment
|  
Muse named world's best band at Q Awards  
Lyle Lovett wears legend mantle lightly
| Entertainment
|  
Jon Gosselin says he returned $180K in joint funds  
Paranormal Activity scares up box office win
| Entertainment
|  
From Vancouver to Buenos Aires, fans jive to 'Thriller'  
Mixed signals for Michael Jackson album sales  
Amnesty says Israel curbing water to Palestinians  
Georgia says Russian forces abducted 16 residents  
 shuts down GeoCities  
Polanski victim calls for dismissal of case  
Qaeda-linked group claims Baghdad bomb attacks
| International
|  
Israel rations Palestinians to trickle of water: Amnesty  
German tax cut gamble meets wall of scepticism  
New owners take control of Chicago Sun-Times  
T-Mobile USA unveils no-contract option  
Iran says two nuclear fuel options still on table  
Verdict due Tuesday in Angola arms trafficking trial  
Karzai dismisses election rival's ultimatum
| International
|  
Video firm settles lawsuits clearing way for Google buy  
Swiss foreign ministry hit by computer attack  
Karadzic shuns war crimes trial, court to proceed
| International
|  
Amnesty says Israel curbing water to Palestinians
| International
|  
One dead, two missing in Malaysia bridge collapse
| International
|  
Baghdad governor blames security forces for carnage  
Rights violated under guise of counter-terrorism: U.N.
| International
|  
Venezuela complains about Colombia spying
| International
|  
Rabbinical ruling causes havoc on elevators  
Pilots used laptop computers while straying off course  
Widower testifies at start of German 'veil martyr' trial  
North Korea targets women in clampdown: UN investigator  
Google Voice lets users keep phone number
| Technology
|  
Japan urges Netherlands to help against whaling activists  
Nintendo to launch new DSi handheld in Japan: report
| Technology
|  
China military boost 'minimum requirement:' general  
T-Mobile USA unveils no-contract option
| Technology
|  
Pakistan arrests 11 Iranians close to border  
Mobile Web usage surge continued in Sept: Opera
| Technology
|  
Disgraced cloning expert convicted in South Korea  
Castro sister recounts role as CIA spy in Cuba  
Utah man charged in child abuse, neglect case  
Deadliest, Wild becoming video games
| Technology
|  
Correction: Gay Marriage Census  
Small plane with 4 aboard crashes in south Texas  
Schumer: Army will scrap privatization plans  
Physicists say former Los Alamos scientist no spy  
Senate health care bill to include public option  
US hits out at bid to bar religious defamation  
Ala. judge cleared of sex abuse in inmate spanking  
Korea Hot Stocks  
S.Koreans upbeat on economy, less so on property  
Nigeria signs 875 mln dlr railway deal with China  
13 W.Va. firms head to China for mining trade show  
Indian drug firm Ranbaxy switches into profit  
Jackson docu This Is It gets jump on weekend
| Entertainment
|  
Bruce Springsteen cancels show after cousin roadie dies
| Entertainment
|  
Scarlett Johansson to make Broadway debut
| Entertainment
|  
Ailing rocker Eric Clapton pulls out of NY concert  
Microsoft pulls out of Family Guy special
| Entertainment
|  
Ailing rocker Eric Clapton pulls out of NY concert
| Entertainment
|  
Palestinian farmers struggle with water crisis  
Scarlett Johansson to make Broadway debut  
Lala.com gets in tune with Facebook gift shop  
Education earns good grades as Oscar race begins
| Entertainment
|  
Alicia Keys' delays new album by two weeks  
Damon, Brolin in talks for True Grit roles
| Entertainment
|  
U2's L.A. show entertaining, but not remarkable  
Lyle Lovett wears legend mantle lightly
| Entertainment
|  
"Education" earns good grades as Oscar race begins  
Low-budget thriller 'Paranormal' tops weekend box office  
"House of the Devil" a hellish experience  
Banderas, Brolin welcome Woody Allen's "Stranger"  
Couple Marry, Celebrate With Triathlon  
Study: Antibody Stops Protein That Causes Internal Bleeding  
Monday Oct. 26 Most Unproductive Day Of The Year In Britain  
Israel and Lebanon engage in a food fight  
Charlize Theron Locks Lips With Woman Bidder For $140,000 Charity Donation  
Teen Girl With No Memory Seeks Identity In New York City  
Submarine Headed To U.S. Seized With 10 Tons Of Cocaine Off Guatemalan Coast  
Canadian Company Launches Balloon Boy Halloween Costume  
'Distracted' Pilots Forget To Land Plane  
Britain's Prince Andrew Blasted For Flying Helicopter To Work  
Iran accepts framework of fuel deal: TV  
BP profit slides on lower oil prices  
Mobile Web usage surge continued in Sept: Opera  
New Japanese glasses bring tears to the eyes  
NASA counts down to Mars rocket test  
"Deadliest," "Wild" becoming video games  
Metallica Pledges $50K Reward To Find Missing Fan  
Iran wants big changes to nuclear deal with powers
| International
|  
Article not found  
Google Voice lets users keep phone number  
Nintendo to launch big-screen DSi console: report  
Randy And Evi Quaid Facing Extradition After Failing To Appear In Court  
Amnesty: Israel withholds water from Palestinians  
Abbas says might not run in poll, officials say
| International
|  
"Lost" Star Henry Ian Cusick Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit With Former Production Staff  
Pilots used laptop computers while straying off course  
Somali pirates say holding British couple
| International
|  
Roman Polanski's Victim Wants The Charges Dropped  
Tsvangirai party pins Zimbabwe crisis hopes on SADC
| International
|  
Michael Jackson's Fans Boycotting "This Is It"  
Facebook users protest home page changes  
French court fines Scientologists, allows operations
| International
|  
Ricky Gervais To Host The Golden Globes Awards  
Guinea's September massacre pre-planned: HRW
| International
|  
German court fines Holocaust-denying bishop
| International
|  
Busch, Logano Getting Raw  
Concert Tours Show Strong Gross Despite Dwindling Economy  
Yemen convicts rebels, Iran denies ship seizure
| International
|  
Couple Lisa Rinna And Harry Hamlin Sued For Over $635K In Back Rent  
NKorea claims SKorean crossed DMZ to defect  
Mobile web usage surge raises hopes of gear demand
| Technology
|  
Police: Pakistan army officer attacked in capital  
T-Mobile USA unveils no-contract option
| Technology
|  
Indonesia won't let asylum seekers off ship  
Japan eyes naval refueling for anti-piracy mission  
Experts: Tigers fast dying out despite campaigns  
Nokia, SAP form anti-piracy services firm
| Technology
|  
N.Korea says S.Korean defected across land border  
Cisco to buy ScanSafe for $183 million
| Technology
|  
Pyongyang says South Korean defects to NKorea  
New Orleans lives on in 'Year Before the Flood'  
Obama putting $3.4B toward a 'smart' power grid  
4 charged in Pagans case set to plead guilty  
Jury selection continues in first polygamist trial  
Japanese hope Obama will visit A-bomb cities soon  
The nation's weather  
Malaysian girl dead after bridge collapse  
Slain north Florida girl to be laid to rest  
2 Tibetans executed in China over riots last year  
Obama promotes 'smart grid'  
New safety worry: Laptops, devices in the cockpit  
Kerry: US leadership at stake in climate debate  
Thai action star hopes for Hollywood debut  
China Shenhua 3Q profit up 12 pct as output rises  
Honda raises forecast, avoids loss for first half  
China says investment overseas up sharply  
Taiwan auctions failed Chinfon Bank to local lenders  
Japan's Canon suffers profit slump  
Honda sharply hikes annual profit forecast  
Google eyeing India 3G market: report  
Toshiba says lost about 630 mln dlrs in first half  
Joke's on Bill Cosby as Seinfeld, Rock pay tribute  
Honda raises year forecast, quarterly profit drops  
Indonesian district bans trousers for women  
Compassion amid the violence of Rio's slum  
Seoul shares edge 0.5 pct lower;autos lend support  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Bruce Springsteen cancels show after cousin roadie dies  
Jackson docu "This Is It" gets jump on weekend  
Microsoft pulls out of "Family Guy" special  
Thai action star hopes for Hollywood debut  
Foreigners fired up over kimchi as festival opens  
Nepal's 'laptop astrologer' takes to the airwaves  
Carell tees up for golf comedy "Missing Links"  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights