Pilots with that level of expertise typically undergo frequent health diagnostics and are covered by high-value aviation health insurance policies.
But their vast amount of experience couldn’t save them, as it was later revealed that part of the plane’s tail assembly failed due to a lack of lubrication of the jackscrew assembly.
A failure that would later lead to debates about product liability insurance, regulatory oversight, and maintenance malpractice.
In the resurfaced audio, Captain Thompson was heard telling air traffic control that they were “in a dive.” His calm under pressure has since been cited in pilot wellness seminars and aviation trauma case studies.
He went on to explain: “Not a dive yet but we’ve lost vertical control of our airplane.” These final communications have since been used in training programs focused on emergency response and aviation mental health support.
Thompson then said they’d managed to get it under control, but First Officer Tansky weighed in and said “no we don’t.”
