The flight data recorder also could prove valuable because it would have recorded actions taken by the pilots during the 78 minutes they did not respond to repeated calls from air traffic controllers, the ex-investigator said.

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The separate flight data recorder also could prove valuable because it would have recorded actions taken by the pilots during the 78 minutes they did not respond to repeated calls from air traffic controllers, the investigator said.

CNN: Co-pilot: No sleeping or arguing in cockpit

The separate flight data recorder also could prove valuable because it would have recorded actions taken by the pilots during the 78 minutes they did not respond to repeated calls from air traffic controllers, the former accident investigator said.

CNN: Crew of wayward airliner cooperative, sober, police say

"We would put up our firefighting response against any airport in the country, as borne out by repeated citations in National Air Traffic Safety Board reports, " Port Authority PBA President Paul Nunziato said in a statement.

WSJ: Gov't: 4 NY area airports have training violations