The FAA has now revoked the licenses of two Northwest Airlines pilots who overflew their destination airport Oct. 21, saying the broke several federal aviation regulations.

The pilots of Flight 188 from San Diego to Minneapolis were out of contact with air traffic controllers for more than one hour, and air traffic controllers and airline officials repeatedly tried to reach them through radio and data contact, without success, FAA said in a statement. The pilots violated numerous regulations, including “failing to comply with air traffic control instructions and clearances and operating carelessly and recklessly. “

The licenses were revoked immediately, and the two pilots have 10 days to appeal the emergency revocations to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Delta had already suspended them from duty, and earlier today said they risk losing their jobs. Delta emphasized that “using laptops or engaging in activity unrelated to the pilot’s command of the aircraft during flight is strictly against the airline’s flight deck policies and violations of that policy will result in termination.” (Delta speaks for its Northwest operating subsidiary.)

Both A320 pilots told the NTSB there was a distraction in the cockpit, saying they were in a “concentrated period of discussion” over the new crew scheduling system. Both were using personal laptops to access and discuss the new scheduling procedures and did not monitor the aircraft or notice messages from company dispatchers.

In response, in an Oct. 26 statement, the Delta chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents 12,000 Delta pilots, came to the defense of the pilots as well as safety reporting systems and warned all parties to the probe not to reach a hasty conclusion.

Delta ALPA Master Executive Council President Lee Moak noted that the flight crew’s statements to the NTSB had been voluntary. “We are disappointed that these voluntary statements are being used without regard for the breach of trust and confidence their use will cause,” he said.

Programs such as Aviation Safety Action Program and Flight Operational Quality Assurance programs enable pilots to self-disclose safety information without fear of retribution. Moak added that “A rush to judgment by the NTSB will have a direct impact on the future of voluntary safety programs.”

Photo: Northwest