NTSB -- NTSB INVESTIGATING FLIGHT THAT OVERFLEW INTENDED MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT

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NTSB ADVISORY

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

October 22, 2009

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NTSB INVESTIGATING FLIGHT THAT OVERFLEW INTENDED MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT

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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an

incident where an Airbus A320 overflew the Minneapolis-St Paul

International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (MSP).

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at 5:56 pm mountain daylight time,

an Airbus A320, N03274, operating as Northwest Airlines (NWA) flight

188, became a NORDO (no radio communications) flight at 37,000 feet.

The flight was operating as a Part 121 flight from San Diego

International Airport, San Diego, California (SAN) to MSP with 147

passengers and unknown number of crew.

At 7:58 pm central daylight time (CDT), the aircraft flew over the

destination airport and continued northeast for approximately 150

miles. The MSP center controller reestablished communications with

the crew at 8:14 pm and reportedly stated that the crew had become

distracted and had overflown MSP, and requested to return to MSP.

According to the Federal Administration (FAA) the crew was

interviewed by the FBI and airport police. The crew stated they

were in a heated discussion over airline policy and they lost

situational awareness. The Safety Board is scheduling an interview

with the crew.

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) have

been secured and are being sent to the NTSB laboratory in

Washington, DC.

David Lawrence, the Investigator-in-Charge, is leading the team of 3

in investigating the incident.

Parties to the investigation are the FAA and Northwest Airlines.

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NTSB Media Contact: Keith Holloway

hollowk@xxxxxxxx

(202) 314-6100

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