This controller and one other continue on trial in Federal court along with Legacy pilots Joe Lepore and Jan Paul Paladino.
For those without a scorecard, Jomarcelo is the one who was at the console when the transponder went off, though not without first showing for seven minutes that the Legacy was at a different altitude than he expected, without him noticing. In his defense, he had flunked the controllers' exam four times, so perhaps the question is not what he did or failed to do, but who the Hell sat him in front of a console?
On the others, another Embraer plane on its maiden flight with an American crew had followed one of João Batista's clearances into a mountain, according to persistent rumor. That the crash took place, and for that reason, is true; whether it was him I still lack proof, though he was on the duty roster that month.
There may be other news on the case in the next week or so.
G1 - Justiça Militar condena controlador de voo pelo acidente da Gol - notícias em Brasil
26/10/2010 17h57 - Updated 26/10/2010 18h06
Military Court condemns air traffic controller in Gol accident
Accident between Gol airliner and private jet killed 154 people in 2006
Sargeant was sentenced to 1 year and 2 months for manslaughter
Débora Santos of G1, in Brasilia
The Military Courts this Tuesday (Oct 26) sentenced to one year and two months for manslaughter (homicide when there is no intent to kill), sergeant Jomarcelo Fernandes dos Santos, a light controller who was on duty controlling air traffic on the day of the Gol 1907 accident, which left 154 dead four years ago. An appeal to the Superior Military Tribunal (STM) is possible.
The accident happened on September 19, 2006, when the Gol aircraft collided in midair with a Legacy jet. The sergeant was sentenced by 4 votes to 1.
Another four controllers - João Batista da Silva, Felipe Santos Reis, Lucivando Tibúrcio de Alencar and Leandro José Santos de Barros – were absolved. They had been indicted by the Military Prosecutors' Office (MPM) for negligence and for not observing military safety rules.