Documents in probe of wayward plane to be released

[December 16, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal safety officials say they will release information gathered in their investigation of the Northwest Airlines plane that flew more than 100 miles past Minneapolis while pilots worked on their laptops.

The National Transportation Safety Board says it will make public on Wednesday about 400 pages of interviews with Flight 188's pilots and flight attendants, as well as air traffic controllers, among other information.

Since the board's investigation is continuing, investigators aren't expected to offer any conclusions.

The plane carrying 144 passengers was out of contact with anyone on the ground for 77 minutes as it flew across a broad swath of the country on Oct. 21, raising national security concerns.

[Associated Press; By JOAN LOWY]

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