Poland Crash Probe: 2 Passengers in Cockpit - Others May Have Used Cell Phones

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News/AP

At least two passengers visited the cockpit of Polish President Lech Kaczynski's plane before it crashed last month, and others may have chatted on cell phones, possibly affecting navigation as the crew battled heavy fog over challenging terrain.

Those were among the details revealed Wednesday by Russian and Polish officials investigating the April 10 crash that killed Kaczynski, his wife and 94 others outside the western Russian city of Smolensk. The preliminary report drew no conclusions about what caused the crash.

Russia and Poland have had troubled relations, and releasing an incomplete report may have been intended by both sides to show their determination to be candid and cooperative.

Alexei Morozov, head of the technical commission of Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee, told reporters that among the questions that need further investigation is whether the rolling terrain around the Smolensk military airport distorted instrument readings.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/19/world/main6499794.shtml?tag=stack

[SoapBox]

1. Idiots...idiots...idiots..

And where did they land?

Dead.

[naaman fletcher]

2. Well, it's no the cell phones.

If cell phones could cause a plane to crash, it would happen every day. Do you really trust that every last person on the plane has turned their phone off? I'll bet there are at least 5 phones on on every landing on every flight.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

3. I have had cell phone calls from pilots in the air

As in "were landing in 20 minutes, come pick my ass up"

[boppers]

4. SUPER POWERFUL POLISH CELL PHONES!

I knew it! They have secret phones that can actually change GPS readings, *and* conventional barometric altimeters!

[arikara]

5. How do they figure

that some passengers "may have" chatted on cell phones? Either they do know it for a fact or its just a pretty dumb statement.

[boppers]

6. From what I've read, It's voice recorders.

Cockpit conversations.