Delta Crew Joked, Then Crashed

In 1988, the crew of Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 joked before takeoff that if they crashed, their discussions about flight attendants' dating habits, drink mixes, and other subjects would give the media a "juicy tidbit." Shortly afterward, the Boeing 727 crashed just 22 seconds after leaving the runway at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, killing 14 people and injuring 76. Investigators found that the crew had failed to extend the flaps and slats for takeoff, while a malfunctioning warning system failed to alert them. News outlets repeatedly broadcast the embarrassing cockpit recording, provoking an outcry from pilots and prompting a federal law that prevents the NTSB from releasing actual CVR audio and only allowing relevant written transcripts.

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