Overshooting pilots blame traffic control

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The pilots who flew their Northwest Airlines flight past their destination of Minneapolis Oct. 21 now blame air traffic controllers.

The National Transportation Safety Board earlier said the pilots told investigators they used personal laptop computers during the flight, losing track of time, CNN said.

CNN reported the two pilots, Capt. Timothy B. Cheney, 53, and First Officer Richard I. Cole, 54, say air traffic control rules weren't followed, which contributed to the incident. The claims came in responses to the administrative law judge handling their case.

The responses were filed Nov. 24, but were made public Monday. The pilots are appealing the revocation of their licenses.

"The air traffic controller(s) did not comply with the requirements of the air traffic control manual and other relevant orders, rules, procedures, policies and practices with respect to Northwest Flight 188, nor coordinate effectively with Northwest dispatch, and such failure was a causal or contributing factor in the incident," they said, CNN reported.

A Federal Aviation Administration official said the agency wouldn't comment because the license revocation appeal was ongoing.

The NTSB said in a report that the Airbus A320 was flying at 37,000 feet over the Denver area when air traffic controllers lost contact for more than an hour, CNN reported.