Pilots Blame ATC in Airport Overshoot

The Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis are blaming air traffic controllers in part for the incident.

Capt. Timothy Cheney, 53, of Gig Harbor, Wash., and First Officer Richard Cole, 54, of Salem, Ore., say in documents filed with the National Transportation Safety Board that controllers violated air traffic rules and practices and didn't coordinate effectively with Northwest dispatchers.

The pilots are appealing the Federal Aviation Administration's revocation of their licenses.

The pair were out of touch with anyone on the ground for 77 minutes on Oct. 21 as their plane carrying 114 passengers flew more than 100 miles past Minneapolis.

They later told authorities they had been working on crew scheduling on their laptops.

FAA's Tapes and Transcripts for Northwest Flight 188
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