PPRuNe Forums - Almost a repeat of Tenerife at Shanghai!

No information presented thus far confirms either choice as being more correct or "safer" than the other as a matter of policy. This was a decision made in real time by the PIC of that aircraft in the circumstances of that moment. Second-guessing is irrelevant. We don't know exactly what the PIC sensed or considered in making his decision. We only know the outcome. In this case, not colliding with the offending aircraft makes the outcome a success. Imagine the second guessing if it went the other way.

There is no guarantee that stopping would have been successful. Even if a performance model were to show the airplane could have been stopped prior to the intersection, factors such as tire or braking failures might still alter the outcome. Even a 5 mph impact with another jet could still result in a catastrophic outcome.

From the pilot's perspective this all unfolds rapidly. Within a very short time, a decision must be made and executed. Stop or go? The clock is ticking...Time's up, hope you made the right choice. Either way, you're committed to it now. I'm glad it worked out. I have no idea what the PIC of this flight knew or what prompted him to choose his course of action. Neither does anyone else. Except him...Maybe. We do know it worked. This time. And it's a good bet that's all that mattered to that pilot, in that moment.

Rewarding a successful outcome is better than the alternative. However punishment of the controllers without bothering to find out why is just plain ignorant. If the controllers erred as the result of willful negligence or misbehavior, then their firing might well be warranted. I find it doubtful that a proper investigation into this affair could have been completed in such a short time. More likely the knee-jerk response of a fearful quasi-military bureaucracy. Or perhaps government communication with media could be improved. Could it be that they might reconsider after completing a proper inquiry? Wishful thinking perhaps?