[Adam.S]

source: S.Hradecky

On Oct 26th the NTSB reported, that the crew gave testimony in separate interviews. The crew stated, that they had a 19 hour layover before departure and were both well rested (not fatigued). Neither of them fell asleep, and there was no heated argument on the flight deck. They were discussing a new monthly flight crew scheduling system now in place as result of ther merger (Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines). The discussion started in cruise, both pilots accessed their laptops while reviewing the new scheduling system and lost track of time. They did hear the radio, but did not monitor the calls, neither heard the calls by ATC nor noticed the messages from their dispatchers. About 5 minutes prior to estimated time of touch down a flight attendant entered the cockpit and asked for an estimated time of arrival. At that point the captain realized, that they had already passed Minneapolis, contacted ATC and requested vectors back to Minneapolis.

The NTSB said, that the use of laptops during flight is prohibited by company policy. The crew was using the cockpit loudspeakers in cruise flight, not their head sets. When asked by ATC about their silence on the radio, the crew told ATC, they had a "cockpit distraction" and were dealing "with company policies". Both pilots said, there was no company policy on the cabin crew checking the flight deck.

First analysis of the Cockpit Voice Recorder showed, that it recorded only 30 minutes. The cockpit area microphone channel was not working during this recording, the cockpit headphone microphones however recorded the conversation during final approach, landing and at the gate. The flight data recorder is still being analysed.

The FAA revoked the licenses of both pilots on Oct 27th citing violations of a number of Federal Aviation Regulations including failing to comply with ATC instructions and clearances and operating carelessly and recklessly.