FAA Revokes Licenses of 2 Northwest Pilots

The Federal Aviation Administration revoked the licenses of the two Northwest Airlines pilots who admitted to being on their laptops when they flew 150 miles past the Minneapolis International Airport before circling back to land last week.

Northwest flight 188 was carrying 147 passengers when it lost contact with air traffic controllers for more than one hour. As fighter jets prepared to launch, the pilots re-initiated contact with tower control and turned the plane around to land safely in Minneapolis, its intended destination. 

On Tuesday, the FAA cited the pilots for ignoring air traffic control instructions and "operating in a reckless manner that endangered the lives and property of others.

According to an article in the Washington Post, the pilots have 10 days to appeal the revocation. The licenses were revoked under an emergency order.

Delta Air Lines, parent company of Northwest, issued a statement on Monday saying laptops in the cockpit is against the airline's policies and vowed to terminate pilots for the infraction.

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