I spent an hour reading through the report. Probably a very silly question, but why did the ATCO contact the TU154M first and instruct them to descend, as opposed to contacting the B757-200 and instructing
them to descend? I only ask this with regard to "Right of Way" and the point that it would normally be the aircraft (the B757-200 in this case) approaching from the other aircraft's left who should take avoiding action. Does an ATCO bear that in mind when deciding which aircraft to contact in order to maintain separation?
(The Rules of the road at sea are similar, except for the vertical separation...?!)
