Re: Why was the captain demoted
None of us will know what other evidence (if any) was available to the internal enquiry but there is an important principle involved here.
Since the first days of sailing ships the captain has been ultimately responsible for his vessel. Command is not just a promotion with better pay, it is a position of great authority and responsibility and the place where the buck stops. If a lowly seaman fails to let go one rope and the departure uproots a bollard on the quayside guess who gets to face the enquiry.
Aviation has rightly inherited the naval culture - the real question lies in an individual's suitability for command. So in this case was the airline confident to allow this captain to remain in command. It is their judgement call and they clearly had doubts.
Anyone offered the LH seat should ask himself honestly if he is prepared to accept total and unconditional responsibility for any eventuality regardless of cause or blame. Your career is on the line. Are you really
ready ?.
Similarly airlines should be asking some very searching questions about the suitability of command candidates.
The buck stops here. Harsh maybe but the buck still stops here.
End of story.