Pilots Were Told Runway Conditions 'Wet And Slippery'

A member of a congressional panel in Brazil investigating the fatal July 17 landing accident of a TAM Airlines A320 says transcripts of cockpit voice recordings show the pilots were told the runway was "wet and slippery" -- and that braking equipment on the aircraft wasn't activated on touchdown.

Deputy Efraim Filho told Bloomberg the Airbus narrowbody's spoilers weren't deployed on touchdown to slow the aircraft. The pilots were aware of that, Filho adds, saying one called "no spoilers" seconds before the aircraft ran off the runway and impacted a hangar, killing 187 people onboard the plane and 12 on the ground.

The transcripts show the pilots tried to slow the aircraft throughout the landing, and no attempt was apparently made to abort the landing and effect a go-around, Filho said.

As ANN reported, investigators previously discovered the twinjet's right thrust reverser was inoperative at the time of the accident, but airline officials maintain the aircraft was still safe to fly.

Committee members released the transcripts to the public Wednesday, after information from the CVRs was leaked to Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, according to Bloomberg.

A spokeswoman for TAM declined to comment on the latest findings, only saying the investigation is ongoing.

Officials with Brazil's Air Force say the investigation could take as long as 10 months.

FMI: www.infraero.gov.br/usa, www.tam.com.br