Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Maybe there won’t be a tragedy.

...The cockpit recording shows that Russian air traffic controllers told the pilot, “There are no conditions for landing.”

Mr. Protasiuk thanked them and said, “We’ll make an attempt, but if the weather isn’t good, we’ll leave for a second round.” About seven minutes before the crash, controllers told the pilot to reascend from an elevation of 325 feet, and he answered, “If we fail to land, we are reascending on autopilot.” ...

... “It’s going to be dreadful, we won’t be able to see anything,” a crew member said at one point.

Mr. Protasiuk was more hopeful. “Well, no, you can see the ground,” he said, six minutes later. “You can see something. Maybe there won’t be a tragedy.”

Maybe there won't be a tragedy. Wow!

in reference to:

"“It’s going to be dreadful, we won’t be able to see anything,” a crew member said at one point. Mr. Protasiuk was more hopeful. “Well, no, you can see the ground,” he said, six minutes later. “You can see something. Maybe there won’t be a tragedy.”"
- Pilot in Crash of Polish Jet Saw Chance of Landing - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

No comments: