Pilots Tried To Abort Landing Seconds Before Asiana 214 Crash
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- Federal investigators say two pilots called for the landing of an Asiana Airlines plane to be aborted seconds before the plane crashed at San Francisco International Airport.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said Thursday the first call to abort was made about three seconds before impact. The second call came about 1.5 seconds later and was made by a different pilot.
Investigators have said the plane came in too low and too slow, clipping a seawall at the edge of the runway Saturday. Two people died and 180 of the 307 passengers were hurt when Flight 214 slammed into a seawall at the end of the runway. The impact ripped off the back of the plane and tossed three flight attendants and their seats onto the runway.
Hersman also said the pilot told investigators the flash of light he saw during his final approach did not affect his vision and that he was still able to see the flight control instruments after the flash.
He told investigators the light may have been a reflection of the sun.
During what the NTSB billed as its final media briefing on the Asiana Flight 214 investigation Thursday, Hersman said there was no discussion of the flight's speed during the final approach until about nine seconds before impact.
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