In 2006, Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907 (a Boeing 737-800 ) collided with and business jet over the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. The 737 broke up in midair and crashed into the jungle, killing all 154 passengers and crew. The Legacy was being flown by American pilots and the 737 was operated by Brazilian pilots. Professor Elizabeth Matthews (Embry Riddle University) argues that language likely played a subtle but important part in this accident. The report following the accident pointed to the Legacy pilots’ ‘lack of concern with the air traffic control communications’. The crew flew for 57 minutes without communicating with ATC. The cockpit voice recording revealed the American F/O saying “I’ve no idea what the hell he said.” The American crew showed an inability (or perhaps lack of motivation) to manage the communication and problem-solve the breakdowns. Professor Matthews also suggests that the en- route controllers may have suffered from ‘communication apprehension’ and this led them not to communicate critical information.

GOL / Business jet