Because the AAF had no previous airlift experience as a basis for planning Arranging , it assigned Choosing commanders who had been key figures in founding Creating the ATC in 1941–1942 to build Building and direct Aiming the operation , which included Cause_to_be_included former civilians with extensive executive experience operating Being_in_operation civil air carriers .

For its efforts and sacrifices , the India–China Wing of the ATC was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation on 29 January 1944 at the personal direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt , the first such award made Manufacturing to a non-combat organization .

The crew of the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft last communicated Communication with air traffic control Control ( ATC ) around 38 minutes after takeoff Self_motion when the flight was over the South China Sea .

The aircraft was lost Earnings_and_losses from ATC radar screens minutes later , but was tracked Self_motion by military radar for another hour , deviating Change westwards from its planned Arranging flight path , crossing Motion_directional the Malay Peninsula and Andaman Sea .

When air traffic control ( ATC ) contacted Communication the pilot , the pilot 's speech Expressing_publicly had become Becoming significantly impaired Confronting_problem and he was unable to respond Response to instructions Communication .

The subsequent investigation Criminal_investigation by Spanish authorities concluded Coming_to_believe that the primary cause Causation of the accident was the KLM captain 's decision to take off Departing in the mistaken belief that a takeoff Self_motion clearance from air traffic control Control ( ATC ) had been issued Creating .

Dutch investigators placed Placing a greater emphasis on mutual misunderstanding in radio communications between the KLM crew and ATC , but ultimately KLM admitted that their crew was responsible for the accident and the airline agreed Agree_or_refuse_to_act to financially compensate Rewards_and_punishments the relatives of all of the victims .

After the crash , the Indian investigation committee issued Statement 62 recommendations to the Indian DGCA ( Director General of Civil Aviation ) , including a time recording on the ATC tapes and the formation of several investigative committees specializing in several aviation operational issues .

The track in question was also not equipped Supply with ATC ( automatic train control ) , an older and simpler system that had been operational Being_in_operation for years on the southbound track of the curve at which the derailment Catastrophe occurred , and that also would have limited Limiting the train 's speed entering the curve .

Shortly after the derailment Catastrophe , Amtrak completed Process_end ATC installation Building on the northbound track .