Erlanger
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2002
- Posts
- 1,693
Very good article in last month's Business/Commercial Aviation about the criminalization of aviation accidents. It is actually fairly common overseas and the article recounts about a dozen incidents where pilots or controllers have been arrested, charged, and imprisoned for accidents in which there was no willful negligence.
Obviously, the GOL airlines crash in Brazil is covered in great depth and it is clear systemic ATC failures in Brazil were responsible, not the crews of either aircraft. And yet, authorities continue their efforts to jail the crew of the US registered Legacy as well as several Brazilian controllers. There is also a case of the retired Chief Designer of the A-320 being criminally charged, along with several other Airbus and airline executives in the wake of a eastern European crash of a 320.
It is a very troubling trend and no matter what you might think of the Sicily event, don't allow a religious angle, even if true, make you think pilots, controllers, mechanics, or manufacturers should go to jail for accidents.
They're called "accidents.' Not "on purposes."
That's why if you're involved in accident/incident and can walk away, it's probably best to get out of that country fast.