Part 5/8:

As they ran through pre-flight checklists, procedural lapses crept in. The captains failed to complete a critical checklist item concerning the flap configuration, critical for successful takeoff. Time pressures delayed communication and concentrated focus on completing tasks, generating further confusion regarding roles and responsibilities in the cockpit.

Crucially, when lined up on the runway, the first officer incorrectly stated the flaps were set, firmly illustrating a psychological phenomenon called “expectation bias,” where individuals see what they expect rather than reality. The culmination of these errors resulted in the aircraft taking off despite the flaps being inappropriately configured.