Originally Posted by
1.3vso
I heard the instruction as fly heading 180. I figured the controller realized the were high and close and tried to vector them but they said they were established. Also the ATC observation of being 3,500 FT and 5 miles was likely a polite way of saying "do you guys know what you are doing".
You are right, ATC does say turn left to 180, that's a wrong transcription on the video. That makes much more sense rather than a confusing attempt to request a left orbit.
In fact, that was a moment at which they could have halted the entire spiral into disaster. Had they simply complied with ATC's request, almost certainly they would have got back on top of the situation and it would have been a non event.