ATC audio reveals why United flight returned to Las Vegas

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA United flight turned back to Las Vegas over a hijack text, and then the pilot told controllers the plane was grossly overweight.

2. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWith us is Octavia Greaves, aviation safety consultant and author of Circling Is a Strategy. Octavia, why did the plane loop twice?

3. OG

   Octavia GreavesBecause it was too heavy to land, Chip. It had to burn fuel first.

4. OG

   Octavia GreavesAs I wrote in chapter nine, heavy planes circle, and as I wrote in chapter four, they never do.

5. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorChapter nine says circle, chapter four says never. Which chapter was the pilot reading over Las Vegas?

6. OG

   Octavia GreavesBoth. That's the book's strength. Hold on, I need my luggage scale for this.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe flight left Harry Reid at ten thirty-seven p. m. and landed at eleven forty-two, according to FlightAware. Sixty-five minutes for two loops.

8. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWas that the safe call?

9. OG

   Octavia GreavesYes. As I wrote in chapter eleven, fuel is the only thing a pilot can throw away safely. The scale confirms it.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA cockpit crew member told controllers the passenger doesn't know anything is going on. So I assume the one person who might have been the problem was calm.

11. OG

    Octavia GreavesCalm is the airline's best product, and I'm sorry to say it's also the one they always weigh last.

12. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo did you see this coming?

13. OG

    Octavia GreavesI called it, and I called the opposite. Chapter two of both editions. I'll send you the scale.

14. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPassengers got a replacement flight the morning of October twenty-fifth, after the crew hit its duty-time limit, United says. But did anyone weigh the book?

15. OG

    Octavia GreavesIt's one pound, four ounces. Light enough to land anywhere.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorVerdict: two loops, one scale, zero chapters that agree. Octavia, you're staying on the ground until you pick a chapter.

17. OG

    Octavia GreavesThe scale says one hundred fifty passengers, six crew, and one very long Sunday for you, Chip.