4Greens, I can't follow your misguided and somewhat naive logic. If we allow this individual to walk away unpunished then surely we are giving a green light to all and everyone to carry out any unsafe action, regardless of the consequences. This is patently obviously wrong. This pilot made a fundamental and negligent error. He wantonly disregarded all the advice, warnings and evidence which would have led to a safe alternative, yet he pressed on regardless, resulting in many deaths. DEATHS, not a dent in the wing, deaths. Are you suggesting that human life is worth less than the supposed supremacy of the present flight safety regime?
If it takes the imprisonment of this individual to show others that they will be responsible for their criminal actions then all well and good. I hope he gets the maximum sentence, assuming he is found guilty that is.