Condolences to all souls on board both DHL and Bashkirian aircraft.
I was sitting in the office at work with my collegue watching the news and the events that then unfolded in the following hours and days.
When I was back on shift with him later I made a point of saying that I was sure the delay of the crew on-board the Bashkirian was due to the fact that he was in utter confusion as to whether to follow TCAS or ATC instruction.
Excuse my ignorance but isn't the training given in Instrument flying to rely 100% totally on your instruments? Or do ATC have the ability and power to give instruction over them?
Maybe this just goes to show how good the TCAS technology is and that close RVSM in airspace needs to be computer controlled, with no human intervention!