Originally Posted by
bubbers44
Yes, they made a big mistake but the computer chose the nearest R and it happened to be Bogota.
With respect, I heard it a little differently. The computer can't "choose" a waypoint of its own volition - their charts didn't match up with the FMS database, and the waypoint they wanted should have been marked "ROZO". When they punched "R", the FMS gave them a list - I don't know in which order, but it wasn't nearest-first, because if it were, then Rozo would have headed the list rather than the Romeo beacon at Bogota.
For reasons I won't (and can't) speculate on, they selected the first on the list - Romeo. This also had the knock-on effect of erasing the original flight plan from the FMS in its entirety, including the TULUA waypoint that they were waiting to pass - undoubtedly leading to more confusion.