Gawd.
Parabellum: "If".
That's why the facts about what actually happened, rather than speculation as to what could have happened, matter.
mikewil: "If".
Who said ATC is not an essential part of the system of air safety?
ATC is an essential part of the system of air safety. But whether safety is, in fact, compromised in a specific set of factual circumstances depends on the facts.
Clearly the spin doctors were of the view that there was in fact no compromise to safety, in the specific set of circumstances that existed in fact, because that's in effect what they said in fact.
The facts may end up being important.