Suspended Northwest pilots accused of using laptops in cock - Airport Hotels,Travel Airport News

Airport news for Airport Hotels,Travel on 29/10/2009.

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In these days of advanced technology it seems that there is very little that computers can’t do. But a stretch of imagination is still needed to believe that they can be capable of abducting an airplane. However, it has been suggested that laptops, or the use of them anyway, may be behind the mysterious disappearance of one airliner last week.

The mystery occurred aboard Northwest Airlines Airbus A320 flight to Minneapolis on October 22nd. Two US pilots were in charge of the flights, which contained 144 passengers and five attendants. Everything seemed to be going according to schedule until air traffic controllers suddenly lost radio contact with the plane.

A brief period of alarm ensued as it was thought that the plane must either have been hijacked or have crashed. The situation was believed to be so severe that air traffic control went as far as warning the White House of a potential problem.

However, a short time later the plane landed safely, having overshot its destination by 150 miles, and then turned around after the miscalculation was discovered. While some people speculated that the error had occurred due to the pilots arguing or falling asleep, it was soon discovered that their laptops may have been involved.

An initial report has revealed that: "Each pilot accessed and used his personal laptop computer while they discussed the airline crew flight scheduling procedure. The first officer, who was more familiar with the procedure, was providing instruction to the captain. The use of personal computers on the flight deck is prohibited by company policy.”

The two pilots in question have now had their commercial licences revoked, while further investigations are still underway.

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