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The flight was piloted by Captain Ted Thompson, a seasoned aviator with over 177,000 hours of flight time, and First Officer William Tansky, who brought 8,000 hours on the MD-80 aircraft. Their combined experience seemed to promise a secure flight. However, they were completely unaware of the hidden vulnerability lurking within their aircraft.
A Routine Takeoff Turns Problematic
As Flight 261 ascended through 6,000 feet, the pilots activated the autopilot. Moments later, a warning light flickered in the cockpit, alerting them to a critical issue: the autopilot could not control the stabilizer—an essential component for aircraft maneuverability. Despite their best efforts to rectify the problem using various checklists, the stabilizer remained stuck.