According to the National Transportation Safety Board, Atlas Air Flight 3591 left Miami at 11:30 a.m. eastern time.
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NTSB said the flight was approaching Houston on standard arrival route from the southeast.
At around 12:30 p.m., Boeing 767's pilots contacted Houston approach control as they were descending from about 18,000 feet. During this time, NTSB says the flight was about 73 miles southeast from the airport.
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As the flight continued to approach, the air traffic control advised the pilots there was light to heavy rain ahead and provided radar vectors around the weather.
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At around 12:36 p.m. the aircraft was cleared to descend to 3,000 feet, the NTSB said.
It wasn't until 12:39 p.m., while the aircraft was at 6,000 feet and a speed of 240 knots, communication was lost with the aircraft as a radar contact.