Controllers/Pilots?!!
It would be correct to say that Sky Guides operations triggered the initial collision course of the two aircraft( Time Lag on the screens, Inoperative equipment due to maintenance leading to unsuccessful internal communications).
Commenting on the Tupolev crew: It was a training flight with the senior training captain in the jumpseat. The Tupolev's TCAS picked up the collision course well before the 757"s. At the same time Skyguide instructed the two a/c different FLs.
Being a bit late(obviously due to the time lag), both the TCAS's warnings on the a/c were getting serious. The TCAS warnings on both the aircraft didn't correspond to Skyguide instructions. Russian training being quite orthodox and different from the rest of the world, the training captain of the TU ordered the captain to comply with Skyguide whereas the First Officer urged his Captain to obey TCAS controls. The Captain decided to obey his Training captain.
The 757 crew complied with TCAS..
Guess what?....
My personal belief and conclusion: The main cause here is CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. Fair enough a flawless and fully functional radar control system wouldn't have led to the accident. But a global standardization of cockpit ethics would have saved the lives of various.
You think controlling in India is poor.. Try Africa!!!
Sorry to deviate from the post..Just wanted to clear things up..
Big up to Capt. Kohli.
Safe Flying to ev1.