Originally Posted by
Right Way Up
US ATC are not obligated to check readbacks and challenge.
EVA obviously had no SA as exhibited that they happily turned towards terrain with no obvious issue.
The controller once it was obvious that EVA was a rogue should have been very clear in her instruction and guided EVA away from trouble. "turn Southbound" was unbelievably vague in this case.
Sounds more like freeway instruction on a GPS.