SirK, I didn't say that they didn't know what they were doing.
Chopjock, you are wrong, a pilot may be capable of "helping" the shot, but he should be doing the flying. My point is in reply to some statements of 'fact' here, saying that the pilot MUST have been aware. Probably, but not certainly. And that mylord is the case for the defence.
Modern day courts normally require a degree of certainty before a conviction. If there is a possibility of error, even a small one, you often get away with it. Therefore these guys are now officially innocent.
In the big scheme of things, this is a minor offence. If you are angry and upset about it, do some research on how many people get away with rape and murder, even though they are bang on guilty