Where was ground control?
Who was watching as "clear for takeoff" was uttered?
The tower was asleep.
There was only one person working in the control tower at the time of takeoff, from what I've read in an earlier report.
FAA acknowledges it violated staffing policies with only one air traffic controller (KY)
-PJ
I've GOT to believe that crossing a fully LIT runway while starting to proceed down a fully dark one would be worth a reaction of some sort, even if the ATC in the tower had his feet up.....
'Where was ground control?
Who was watching as "clear for takeoff" was uttered?
The tower was asleep.'
None of those agencies had the controls. The crew f'ed this up, there is no excuse. He was cleared to depart via the duty runway. He rogered and went elsewhere. The best the tower would have done was abort him in time to run off the end with the same results.
They stated on tonight's evening news that there was only one guy in the control tower - should've been two - and he turned his back so he didn't see if plane got on to right runway.
The most important point is that they redesigned the runway and these pilots had not been there since the change. I smell lawsuit.