FAA Revokes License Of Northwest Pilots Over Laptop Use

October 27, 2009 7:34 p.m. EST

Minneapolis, MN (AHN) - The licenses of two Northwest Airline pilots who over shot the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport last week by 150 miles have been revoked by the FAA. The pilots who were using their laptops while in the air broke company policy.

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the pilots -- Capt. Timothy B. Cheney, 53, and First Officer Richard I. Cole, 54 of flight 188 -- became aware of their mishap only after a flight attendant asked about the landing time. They were out of radio contact for more than an hour while they were engaged in mundane tasks relating to scheduling.

"The pilots said there was a concentrated period of discussion where they did not monitor the airplane or calls from (air traffic controllers) even though both stated they heard conversation on the radio," the NTSB said after interviewing the two.

"Using laptops or engaging in activity unrelated to the pilots' command of the aircraft during flight, is strictly against the airline's flight deck policies and violations of that policy will result in termination," said a statement issued by Delta.