I flew alongside Vincent last year doing that very job in Libya, and he was a fine fellow. I am absolutely outraged as I know he was no kamikaze. He was probably pressured to extremes by these guys.
Joaquin, sorry for writing in French, mate. Just a couple answers regarding your remarks:
1. The tuna spotting job seems very different in Spain than it is in France. You guys are apparently paid according to the amount of fish caught, i.e. you are part of the team and you get a decent salary. I met some very experienced Spanish pilots doing that kind of missions. When you fly for the French fishermen, on the other hand, you get a ridiculous salary that only pilots with low experience are ready to accept. You are NOT part of the team, you are considered less that s
t and you are there to shut up and do whatever you are told.
2. I knew a pilot of Raphaël (the fisherman who owned one of the airplanes) who flew 175 hours in one month of last season in Libya. The guy had 300 hours total time, and he was exhausted. When he was smart enough to say "stop", the Raphaël guy threatened to beat him up.
3. There is indeed radio contact between the airplanes, to say altitude and QNH, but you never say your position (because somebody might go there and look for your fish, you see). When you spot fish, i.e. when there are several airplanes turning over a small area, then people completely stop talking (so that nobody knows they have found fish, of course).
IS THE DGAC GOING TO REACT OR WHAT???