More about the midair collision in Brazil

Brazil crash prompts call for improvements

In response to the September midair collision over the Amazon that claimed 154 lives, the National Transportation Safety Board yesterday recommended improvements in the collision-avoidance system on jets to make warnings more noticeable to pilots.

Cockpit excerpts spark emotions

The publication of excerpts from the cockpit voice recorder on the private jet flown by two Long Island pilots involved in Brazil's worst aviation disaster has rekindled passions there, with some media repeating their early contention that the Americans' recklessness caused the collision that brought down a commercial jet.

LI pilots supported by data

The cockpit voice recorder from the private jet flown by two Long Island pilots involved in Brazil's worst aviation disaster confirms their contention that air traffic controllers cleared them to fly at the altitude of the fatal collision.

Controllers and pilots to share Brazil air crash blame

Air traffic controllers as well as two American pilots are likely to share the blame for Brazil's worst aviation disaster when the country's criminal probe of the September collision wraps up in about a month, a spokeswoman for the federal police said Monday.

L.I. pilots in Brazil crash welcomed home

The two ExcelAir pilots detained in Brazil for 70 days after surviving a midair collision that killed 154 people on another plane are finally back with family and friends.

L.I. pilots charged in Brazil jet crash

Two Long Island pilots detained in Brazil since September after surviving that country's worst-ever air disaster are expected to arrive at MacArthur Airport at noon Saturday -- one day after being criminally charged in the crash under that nation's laws.

Brazil releases passports of LI pilots

Two Long Island pilots stranded in Brazil since surviving a fatal midair collision took a big step toward coming home, when a federal tribunal there ruled Tuesday that they should be given their passports back within 72 hours.

King calls for Brazil to release LI pilots

Leaders press for Brazil pilots' release

The National Transportation Safety Board yesterday said air traffic controllers had cleared both planes involved in a fatal mid-air accident in Brazil to fly at the same altitude.

Judge denies passport request

A Brazilian federal judge yesterday refused to return the passports of two Long Island pilots involved in a midair collision over the Amazon basin that killed 154 people.

Black boxes back in Brazil

The black boxes from the jets that collided over the Amazon jungle three weeks ago have been returned to Brazil, but the head of the investigation said data transcripts won't be released until other evidence is collected.

New evidence in Brazil crash probe

In a move that may speed the investigation of the fatal plane crash involving a pair of Long Island pilots detained in Brazil, federal police here have gained access to critical evidence that had been withheld by the Brazilian Department of Defense.

Official: Pilots, controllers caused Brazilian crash

As the Canadian Transportation Safety Board finished retrieving information from three black boxes recovered from jets that collided over the Amazon jungle, the official who runs Brazil's airports said the pilots of both planes and air traffic controllers all contributed to the deadly accident.

Tired at the switch in Brazil

The head of the union representing the nation's civilian air traffic controllers here said employees responsible for monitoring traffic and warning aircraft of potential danger often work two jobs because of low pay, and that stress and fatigue are a problem in control towers.

Brazil controllers: Don't lay blame yet

Two retired Brazilian air traffic controllers say Brazilian aviation authorities shouldn't jump to the conclusion that two Long Island pilots are to blame for that country's worst-ever aviation accident.

Tricky transponder knob criticized

While waiting to learn what was recorded on the black boxes on the two jets that collided over the Amazon two weeks ago, Brazilian investigators are focusing on whether two Long Island pilots inadvertently turned off a locating device because of how the controls are configured.

REPORTING FROM BRAZIL

Brazilians' air traffic troubles

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Elnio Borges, who flies jets for Brazil's Varig Airlines, says he becomes uncomfortable when he hears government officials here insist that there are no problems with the country's air traffic control system.

Recordings key to fate of LI pilots

With Brazilian officials now saying they expect to place the full blame for the midair collision over the Amazon jungle on two Long Island pilots, their fate will depend heavily on what is heard on the cockpit voice recorder from their jet.

Pilots say Brazilians drew flight plan

The flight plan for an American corporate jet that collided with an airliner over the Amazon jungle 11 days ago was prepared not by its two Long Island pilots but by the plane's Brazilian manufacturer, according to the pilots' statements to authorities.

Pilots to stay put for probe of Brazil crash

The full investigation of a midair collision over the Amazon jungle 10 days ago should take two months to complete, according to Brazilian authorities.