Part 5/9:
As they took off from Louisville, they began with a confident and normal ascent, unaware of the lurking danger ahead. Despite the initial clear skies, variable weather conditions would come into play shortly after takeoff.
A Fateful Approach to Birmingham
While approaching Birmingham, the pilots were required to switch to a localizer approach due to the unexpected closure of the main runway. Unfortunately, both pilots failed to update their flight management computer (FMC) to accurately reflect their flight plan after receiving new clearance instructions. This oversight went largely unnoticed amidst the cockpit banter and an apparent underestimation of their altitude.