We were all pretty surprised to hear the news: Northwest Airlines Flight 188 overshot the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport by 150 miles. Initial reports surfaced, claiming there was a heated argument in the cockpit. Speculation arose about whether the pilots were asleep.
So what do you think happened?
It's something we all want and need to know. What goes on in that cockpit? Our lives are at stake every time we board an aircraft. My 87 y/o father has never flown a plane, because he is fearful of what it means for the plane to be on "autopilot." He wants the pilots at the controls, and in charge, at all times.
Unfortunately, due to the way the cockpit voice recording system works, we may never find out. Apparently, the system records for less than 45 minutes at a time, then resets, so the events that transpired after the 78 min radio silence may have taped over the actual time in question.
I hope the airline will be transparent about this. In this age of highjackings, plane crashes, delays, and general increased hassle in flying, the public needs reassurance that our own people aren't jeopardizing our safety.