In documents filed with the NTSB on Comair’s Lexington, Ky. crash, the airline admitted that, among other factors contributing to the event, the crew violated the sterile cockpit rule. However, it also cited FAA’s violation of its own staffing requirements for two controllers in the tower. A single controller was managing the traffic at the time of the August crash. A final report is expected later this year. Related Story
"Comair understands and accepts that the conduct of one of its flight crews is one of numerous factors which contributed to this accident," said President Don Bornhorst in a statement. "It would be simple but inaccurate to conclude that the only cause of this tragic accident was a mistake by Comair's well-trained and experienced flight crew."
The airline also indicated the crew did not have complete or accurate information needed to navigate on the airport. It had an outdated airport map. It did not have information on the construction which changed the conditions at the airport, a major focus of the NTSB’s recent runway incursion conference. Related Story
For its part, the airport said it was overruled by the FAA when it suggested providing interim airport diagrams during construction. Air Line Pilots Association and National Air Traffic Controllers Association cited FAA understaffing and controller fatigue.