Comments on: The Top 10 Reasons They Missed MSP

By: The best of 1000+ aviation blog posts | Plastic Pilot

The best of 1000+ aviation blog posts | Plastic Pilot — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:03:18 +0000

[...] As often, the voice of reason and experience can be heard on flightlevel390.blogspot.com. Both Jetwhine and Cockpit Conversation listed their top 10 reasons why the crew missed the destination. Max [...]

By: Valerie Booth

Valerie Booth — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:21:49 +0000

You guys have it all wrong!

The REAL reason they overflew MSP (and I am personally SHOCKED at each and every one of you) is that…

They were both on their Microsoft Flight Simulators.

By: Marty Grimes

Marty Grimes — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:16:32 +0000

I’m entirely convinced they were playing Bejeweled Blitz. Or maybe Farkle. I’ve frittered away so many hours, it’s amazing I ever make it to work on time.

When we thought they had fallen asleep, my solution was to seat all crying babies in the cockpit. If anyone has to be kept awake, it should be the pilots.

Perhaps a more realistic solution is to get them a Garmin. I know when I overshoot my exit, that Garmin lady just doesn’t shut up until I “make a U-turn.”

By: Gary Knowles

Gary Knowles — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:51:01 +0000

(11) There’s this great little bar in Hurley, WI…

(12)Well, they might still be flying but there’s that thing about “…after four hours see your physician…”

(13) The pilot & co-pilot had actually locked themselves OUT of the
cockpit and couldn’t get back in until they found a kid with a paperclip who could pick the lock

(14)They were waiting for General Buck Turgidson to issue the recall code

(15) They flew into the Lake Woebegonne Triangle

(16) They had to settle a bet about whether they could do anything
to get mentioned on the Letterman Show

By: Ahmed Sultan, ITC

Ahmed Sultan, ITC — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:31:08 +0000

That incident is not supposed to pass without putting an end to the junky stuff happening behind the closed door of the cockpit which could endanger the lives of many innocent people. There should be something to deter other pilots who might think that God gave them a free hand to do whatever they want.

By: Compilation of top 10 lists explaining why they missed that airport…. — Golf Hotel Whiskey

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:34:56 +0000

[...] had come up with their own “top 10” lists of reasons or excuses. Rob Mark, the editor of Jetwhine, wrote: 10. They were [...]

By: Liz Guthridge

Liz Guthridge — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:10:02 +0000

Very funny! This is a great example of how truth is stranger than fiction.

On a somewhat serious note, I wonder if this experience will underscore why it’s important not to fly/drive and text/work on PC at the same time.

By: Bo Henriksson

Bo Henriksson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:37:17 +0000

Brilliant, just brilliant!
All day I’ve had passengers stick their heads in to the cockpit and say “hope you guys are wide awake!” and the like.
Its NOT funny.

And BTW what was their fuels status when they eventually returned to MSP? Since we don’t typically carry a lot extra in jets, I imagine they could have been in to their last 45 min reserve. Which requires a MIN FUEL call to ATC. Unless off course you’re down to 30 and it becomes a FUEL EMERGENCY and you receive priority.
Apparently none of those were declared either.

There may be a perfectly innocent explanation to this sad story.
Its just that noone I know can come up with one…….

By: National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation

National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:50:11 +0000

[...] Everybody is putting their thoughts out there, including The Cranky Flier and Jetwhine blogs. There have been jokes and the happy ending to ease people’s minds. But, two things [...]

By: Ken Smith

Ken Smith — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:41:19 +0000

At least they weren’t sleeping, which was everyone’s first suspicion about them. That having been said, couldn’t they have filled out their schedules on the ground?

After this, I’m always volunteering for the exit row.

By: rEG

rEG — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:42:16 +0000

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:06:06 +0000

David Lee, the flight attendants DID alert the pilots when they noticed the descent hadn’t begun on time. That’s what woke them out of their stupor. Read the NTSB release for more details. Be glad they were alert!

Kathryn, the required extra fuel probably would have taken them well beyond Lake Michigan, though I don’t think it’s been released exactly how much fuel was on board.

By: Steve Visscher

Steve Visscher — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:33:14 +0000

They were engaged in a robust debate which went something like….

Capt. – Steve is the funniest
FO – No, I think Grant is better
Capt. – No, I tell ya, Steve is the best
FO – Listen pal, I’m telling ya, Grant is da man
Capt. – Hey, I’m not gonna tell you again…..

And so it went…

By: Joe Sharkey At Large » Blog Archive » Pilots’ Top 10 Reasons Why They Overshot MSP

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:51:51 +0000

[...] a link to the always informative and amusing JetWhine blog edited by Rob Mark, a pilot and aviation consultant. Rob has posted his Top 10 reasons the [...]

By: kathryn

kathryn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:29:53 +0000

Oops, just looked at a map and Eau Claire is almost due east of MPLS, not southeast…so, actually, once FMS kicked in, they might have run out of fuel over Lake Michigan. Even scarier. (What would Capt. Sullenberger do?)

By: kathryn

kathryn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:23:15 +0000

Didn’t they get all the way to Eau Claire, Wisc., before a flight attendant managed to capture their attention? So that suggests they were flying to the SOUTHEAST in bypassing the Twin Cities. I’m not a pilot, but if in fact the Airbus FMS would have kicked in, wouldn’t that have put them (ultimately) into ORD air space? That’s scary.

By: David Lee

David Lee — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:15:38 +0000

Shouldn’t the entire crew be held accountable for the screw up, not just the pilots? Someone should have been beating on the cockpit door to get the pilot’s attention.

By: Dick K.

Dick K. — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:05:31 +0000

When they read the destination was the home of Brett Favre’s team, they forgot that it wasn’t Green Bay anymore.

By: Willie M

Willie M — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:15:06 +0000

Were they not wearing a watch? Flight planning says – No contact, No radio, Nothing else proceed to your location on your intended flight plan. The plan has a time limit. This includes early decent, early check out of the dash and controls, etc. These guys are giving us all a bad name. Who ever heard of such a thing as overflying a location by 150 miles? Do not embarrass us by saying you were distracted by discussion with each other!

By: Peter Moll

Peter Moll — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:45:20 +0000

Just when you think there’s no humor left in the aviation industry, this comes along. My complements to everyone with “reasons.”