In 2009, two Northwest Airline pilots overflew their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles because they were focused on their laptops and in conversation. They also ignored air traffic controllers' attempts to reach them. What may have explained this potentially dangerous error?

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Maddison Gross

3 December, 01:01

In 2009, two Northwest Airline pilots overflew their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles because they were focused on their laptops and in conversation. They also ignored air traffic controllers' attempts to reach them. What may have explained this potentially dangerous error?

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Justin Hanna · Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

In 2009, two Northwest Airline pilots overflew their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles because they were focused on their laptops and in conversation. They also ignored air traffic controllers' attempts to reach them. What may have explained this potentially dangerous error is what psychologists refer to as the "cocktail party effect."

Psychologists say that the brain has the ability to pay attention to a specific stimulus, instead of many. The name derives as the situation when you are at a party, listening to loud music, seeing other people dancing, hearing all the voices from other conversations and your brain only focuses on the conversation you are having with your girlfriend.

These pilots form Northwestern airlanes were distracted, having a conversation and watching their laptops and that cause them to not paying attention to air-traffic controllers' indications.