controller killed

Hi,

The recorded conversations between the ATC and the aicraft involved
in the accident clearly show that the controller erroneously
instructed the russian pilot to change altitude and that's exactly
the cause for the accident. IT WAS HIS FAULT, HE IS A MURDERER.

Wrong. Why was the altitude change erroneously? Two planes, same FL,
collision course - what else is he supposed to do?

The tapes do show that the controller tried to separate the two planes
correctly - only he did it too late. A big part of the fault lies with the
Skyguide company (Swiss ATC). They allowed one controller to work a scope
alone, they shut down a collision alert feature for servicing AND they
simultaneously shut down a huge part of the phone system, also for
servicing. The controller had to work TWO scopes at that time (his fault: he
sent his colleague into the break) and was trying to contact a tower by
phone to advise him of incoming IFR traffic in one sector. In the other
sector, the two planes were approaching - unnoticed by the (not working)
collision alert feature and the controller. A German ATC guy saw the
conflict and tried to contact him by phone - the line was busy (see above
why).

The collision avoidance instruction was too late, but in itself correct. The
russian pilot was the one to add the final mistake: he did not follow his
TCAS RA, but the controllers instruction.

So, no, that's a lot of mistakes, but definately no murder.

Patrick