A few seconds later, at around 23,700 feet, the crew discusses their ability to control the aircraft. Within 10 seconds, air traffic control asks at what altitude the crew wants to remain. Crew asks to move to an altitude between 20,000 and 25,000 feet. Several seconds later, crew checks in saying they have a jammed stabilizer, have difficulty maintaining altitude and intend to land at Los Angeles International Airport. Flight crew responds they need to descend down to 10,000 feet to change wing flap configuration to an approach setting.
Crew says they want to do that over the water.
The controllers then issue a clearance to 17,000 feet. This is the last known transmission between controllers and the flight crew. But the flight crew does not acknowledge that transmission. O Investigators probing the cause of the Alaska Airlines crash are reviewing a tape of conversations between the flight crew and the airline's maintenance workers. ABC News Internet Ventures.