To those equating this to a surgeon allowing their kid to make a cut you are all idiots. It is clearly not the same since, if the cut was made incorrectly, it cannot be unmade or corrected in any way whatsoever. The cut exists.
But in this case, no matter what the radio call, it can be immediately countermanded or corrected, and no foul done. Let's be honest here - has every single radio call any one of us made always been 100% correct? I hear corrections broadcast all the time.
This is a case of internet hype blowing a fool-hardy act out of all proportion. 10 years ago this would have gone unnoticed by all. Doesn't mean it was a good idea. But Jet Blue 171 made it through this experience, right? The difference unfortunately now is that we live in an age where you can't fart in public without permission from the p-c police or reading some regulation and signing a waiver.
Sure, the controller needs a good bollocking and a written warning, don't do it again ever, or you're out, etc... but the only reason to fire the guy is to protect the up chain management who now look like they have no control over their staff and have 3 months of paper work to fill out in triplicate before the weekend.
- GY