This is just irresponsible sensationalist journalism - the sort of thing you see in the "Hate Mail" every day. Simple stories dressed up to be huge potential disasters just to sell papers.
The sort of thing in this 'story' happens from time to time in such a complex environment as commercial flying airspace - which is why there are two pilots in every commercial cockpit and a controller and an assistant at every ATC desk, and why TCAS was developed - to protect against the occasional 'human element'.
This 'story' is no more newsworthy than me almost pulling out in front of another car due to a moment's distraction, but stopping just in time.
The Journos involved here need to have more respect and personal pride - and stop treating their readers as gormless idiots. A simple sober statement and presentation of facts and reasons was all that was required.