Thursday 05.02.2004, CET 17:45



Crossair crash caused by pilot error





A report into a Crossair crash near Zurich two years ago that killed 24 people says serious pilot errors were to blame for the accident.

Switzerland�s Air Accident Investigation Bureau also criticised shortcomings of the aircraft operator, Crossair.


The Federal Prosecutor's Office said on Tuesday that it had opened a criminal investigation into possible negligent homicide and grievous bodily harm by negligence.

More at:

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=111&sid=4689252

Now let me get this right. Yet the Swiss authorities are not looking into possible criminal charges against those swissair individuals who purchased a sleezy entertainment system from an unknown, inexperienced company out in the middle of Arizona? See the CTSB report published last March where the investigators indicate that the entertainment sytem was the probable ignition source of the fire that killed 229 people. I think that's appalling. Also see Gary Stoller's articles to understand why this is truly appalling. They can be found on the front page of this site.

Read the below article in Swissinfo and then check the date on this Air Safety Week article. This was reported just before the fatal Crossair crash:

AIR SAFETY WEEK:

Cross at Crossair
Oct 11, 1999
A pilot shortage at Swiss regional carrier Crossair is causing the remaining aircrews to fly long hours, with a negative impact on morale and retention, and the apprehension among some pilots that the situation is inviting a serious incident or accident. An open letter complaining of the working conditions was posted last August by one Crossair pilot (who was subsequently terminated). A meeting recently between management and about 100 Crossair pilots ended with promises that the workload should be relieved by November. The carrier is looking to hire some 60 pilots, from overseas if necessary (reportedly recruiting them from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and, yes, Russia) to make a dent in a shortage estimated at some 120 pilots.

One Crossair pilot (not the one terminated) said the current heavy schedules have put "safety definitely at risk." In addition to flying the maximum permitted hours several days in a row, he added that pilots also occasionally are called out to fly at night, with a reporting time early in the evening. "Who is able to sleep 'on request' at two in the afternoon?" he asked.