FAA Slow to Warn Military of Wayward Plane

(CBS)  The Federal Aviation Administration took too long to notify the military that they had lost contact with a Northwest flight that eventually ended up overshooting its destination by 150 miles, according to a Wall Street Journal report Thursday.

The Minneapolis-bound flight was out of radio contact with air traffic controllers for over 90 minutes before communication was reestablished. The pilots, who have since had their , told investigators they simply lost track of time while working on their laptop computers.

But the pilots may not have been the only ones violating procedure. According to officials familiar with internal reviews into the matter, air traffic controllers should have notified the military within 10 minutes of losing contact with the flight, in the event of a possible hijacking.

Some officials involved in the reviews said at least 40 minutes elapsed before the military was notified, according to the report. Another indicated the time lag was substantially longer.

Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., who commands the U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the Journal he was displeased with the breakdown in communications.

In a statement to the Journal, FAA administrator Randy Babbit acknowledged the controllers "should have notified [the military] more quickly." However, the lack of outward signs of a hijacking - the plane stayed on course and transmitted no distress signals - may have contributed to the delay.

The FAA is conducting an internal review along with several other government agencies.

[hungry1968-17]

by armyoftwelve October 29, 2009 9:38 PM EDT
Well, maybe they didn't want to see this plane get shot down. Not too many lutheran terrorists out there trying to hijack airplanes and fly them inot skyscrapers.







"Scrambling jets", isn't an automatic "shoot to kill" order.

Try to grow up.

[fedup12]

"FAA Slow to Warn Military of Wayward Plane"

How quickly we forget the lessons of 9/11.

They have planes obviously off course for over an hour unable to contact.... Seems like that is exacty what happened on 9/11.

[DaVicar8]

"Seems like that is exacty what happened on 9/11."


In all fairness, the outcomes on 9/11 were slightly different.

[nextgenman09]

In all fairness, not really. The FAA sat on its thumbs then too. All that's missing is a Republitard reading "My Pet Goat" upside down.

[start99]

Another simple case here....if there is a procedure in place and it was violated...find out whom lagged in the communication and why they waited so long...Investigations are afoot. I hope the FAA isnt above the law.

[armyoftwelve]

Well, maybe they didn't want to see this plane get shot down. Not too many lutheran terrorists out there trying to hijack airplanes and fly them inot skyscrapers.

[BuddyBeanbags]

It sounds like the same thing that happened on 9/11, the FAA asleep at the switch... kinda like these pilots were.

[bubbadubba]

This was a major screw up by the FAA and I have no doubt Obama has already made some calls to make sure it does not happen again.
Once again America has memory loss about a horrible event and sets itself up for the same thing to happen again.
Or maybe some right wingers let it go hoping there would be an attack and then Limbaugh could say " I told you Obama would fail, he needs to be impeached".
I would not be surprised it that was not the real reason.

[myopinionpal]

So 40 minutes elapsed before the military was notified well somebody with the FAA was using their laptop while on duty and should be fired.!!!

[billatmsn]

It seems to me, the headdick at the FAA, needs to have azz reamed. Those pilots should have had military jets at the wings, in five mins of going off course.

[sdemaggie]

Looks like a couple of people at the FAA are due to be fired.

[DaVicar8]

Oh, sure . . . the answer is to have LESS FAA employess?

[newyorkmom]

and we want the government to control our healthcare?