Interesting question but maybe too simply put.
Firstly if an event is "unique" then by definition it becomes a binary thing whether that event can be foreseen or not. Your question is then "Can automated systems deal with all foreseeable unique events?" Then the discussion moves to what counts as foreseeable and of those what is it worth guarding against.
In most cases automated systems are constructed around generalisations of specific cases, eg: avoiding crashing in to Everest, becomes GPWS. Similarly preventing a pilot exceeding the load limits of an aircraft becomes the flight laws on an Airbus etc.
As another posted has pointed out: "...that as pilots appear to be the dominant primary cause in aviation accident reports, removing them will remove the errors they make..." is false from many perspectives. While it is "technically" correct the pilot probably did crash the plane, they were probably figuring out how to get out of that situation and therefore circumstances eventually conspired against them. Only a few accidents are attributable to pilots only (AF, German Wings), but even then the chain of events and context is extremely complex - hence the need for accident investigation.
It might help to start with looking at the "Swiss Cheese Model" (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_cheese_model ) and read up on the work by James Reason on the whole concept of safety.
If you want a particularly readable book, have a look at Atul Gawande's Checklist Manifesto which'll give you an insight into how aviation's checklists are used in a completely different environment - one that has a very different idea of what automation is.
Huge area to discuss and lots of research, but take a look at Reason's books and papers,
fc101