Working Theory In Jet Crash: IPhone In Cockpit Is To Blame (appleinsider.com)

Apple Insider reports: Apple on Friday said that it's open to cooperation with French authorities, who are exploring the possibility that two of the company's devices were linked to the crash of EgyptAir Flight 804 in 2016. The flight's first officer may have plugged an iPhone 6s and an iPad mini 4 into the wrong socket in the jet's cockpit, French officials told Le Parisien. That may have triggered runaway heat, in turn sparking a fire.

At the moment, the investigation is being helped by an engineer from the French National Center for Scientific Research, as well as two people fron the French defense ministry, including a physics professor and an engineer specializing in batteries. Results from the investigation should be submitted by Sept. 30. Apple told the Parisien that it wasn't aware of evidence linking its devices to the EgyptAir disaster.

Comments

Re:Should read PILOT is to blame

[w3woody]

Keep in mind that because of the safety culture in modern aviation, even if the pilot is to "blame", human factors are often considered to make sure future pilots do not make the same mistake. So, for example, if a pilot was inattentive and rolled onto the wrong runway, often investigators then try to figure out if there wasn't something more obvious that could have been done to draw the pilot's attention.

So, in the case where you screw up and plug a 120v toaster into a 220v socket, even though its your fault, aviation officials would then ask if there was anything which could be done to prevent someone else from making your mistake. Like properly labeling the toaster and the socket. Or, better yet, designing a different socket so you cannot physically plug in the 120v toaster into the 220v socket. And if you went out of your way to force the plug to fit, they may recommend additional training to other pilots to tell them why forcing plugs is a bad idea.