Excellent post from Disconnected. P.Fogg also makes an interesting point. Economic principles about competition (in any industry) basically state that any business that cannot survive within the legal framework of the industry will go out of business. What MK has achieved over the years has been a result of twisting this principle of remaining within the legal framework, and as a result people have died. How much is a man's life worth?
"Kruger denied that his airline had ever compromised safety" (article form Sunday Times)
This sounds like the comment of a desperate man trying to wash the blood off his hands! The rot starts at the top. Kruger has from the very beginning compromised safety to "deliver the freight", everyone at MK knows that. That safety culture, or lack thereof, is still as prevelent today despite the three previous crashes and the revised operating procedures.
And whilst there have been posts on how the MK crew are being "exploited" by MK management, they are not without blame. Perhaps through denial, ignorance or naivety, or combination of such, (none of which are acceptable excuses) they have and CONTINUE to bend the rules. If Mike Kruger is holding a gun to the crews' heads, THEY THEMSELVES are the ones pulling the trigger in a "game" of Russian roulette by accepting to fly under these conditions!! It's a powerful gun, and innocent people are in the crossfire.
How much is a man's life worth? A lousy US$50 HOTAC ... sound familiar?!