Data entry blunders force Air Asia pilots to land in Melbourne instead of Malaysia

Correction: Sept. 7, 2016, 8:58 a.m. EDT The Air Asia pilots made several errors in entering data into the aircraft’s navigation system, which caused them to follow an incorrect flight path out of Sydney, according to Australian transportation officials. An earlier version of this story mischaracterized what errors the pilots made. While troubleshooting the incorrect flight path, the pilots were unable to fix the issue, and may have compounded it. The aircraft’s systems would not allow the plane to be flown in instrument conditions and the weather also had deteriorated in Sydney by the time the pilots decided to turn back. They were directed via radar to a visual approach in Melbourne where they could land safely. The pilots did not believe the airport was located in Malaysia. Read more...