Part 2/9:
In the afternoon warmth of Saint Louis, the flight preparations went underway. The aircraft was piloted by a 59-year-old captain with over 14,000 flight hours and a first officer, 43 years old, with significant training and experience. Both men had unblemished records, yet they were about to face a crisis that none could have adequately anticipated.
As the aircraft pushed back from the gate and began taxiing to the runway, a lack of focus became apparent. Both pilots engaged in casual conversations, straying from the established sterile cockpit protocol designed for safety. This complacency was to prove detrimental just minutes later.