Mary,
Notwithstanding Bedder B's comments, I cannot accept that "Dutch arrogance" had anything to do with the Tenerife catastrophe. This canard is doubtless an outcome of the belief entrenched in many people that van Zanten ruled his cockpit with an iron fist, browbeat his crew and brooked no backchat from any of them. I've even heard him called a murderer because he began his take-off roll knowing full well he did not have clearance. This accident could, I'm sure, have happened to anyone of any nationality.
Rockhound