I thought your coverage of the Singapore Airlines tragedy was good. Unfortunately, we forget that the three pilots of the crashed aircraft are victims too. Let us not be so quick to condemn them as did the Taiwan Aviation Authorities.
The SIA pilots are entitled to a full investigation and a fair trial. It would be easier for everyone (especially the authorities and even the victims and their families) to close the chapter on this tragedy and send them to jail. But given the coverage in the media, both local and foreign, there is more to the theory of pilot error and it will take a lot of unravelling to determine the truth.
Julie Cheng
Singapore
As a frequent flyer and experienced engineer, I am astonished that there has not been more of a focus on the management of CKS International Airport in the wake of the SQ006 crash. I consider the attitude of the Singapore Airlines CEO to be quite correct, but the authorities at CKS airport have acted pretty poorly. They have some responsibility, maybe even the lion's share!
In my opinion and that of many others, it should be impossible for an aircraft to enter a wrong runway. Bad weather or not, the possibility of entering a closed runway full of stone blocks and machinery should be prevented by solid barriers and warning lights.
I land and take off from CKS airport at least 20 times a year, and hope the management of the airport will take better care of safety in the future.
Even though the pilots may have made a mistake I feel sorry for them, and I am not sure that it is correct to blame them alone for this tragic accident under extremely bad weather conditions.
Naj Kivremsig
Taipei
I couldn't resist writing to voice my feelings on the entire unfortunate event that was the crash of flight SQ006, after reading that the head of the Civil Aeronautic Administration (CAA) made a comment that the "three pilots were solely responsible for the tragic event." Singapore Airlines officials had already admitted that it was their plane and their pilots and that they are responsible for the tragic accident. They would, however, like to find out why it had happened.
The Taiwan government, including the leader of the country, made a clear statement on TV, saying that the Singapore government should apologize to the Taiwanese people for this accident. The CAA chief carries on, saying that the three pilots were solely responsible. What about the people in the tower? What about the pilot of the plane right behind, waiting for take off? What about the lights on the runway? There were so many uncertainties that could have caused the accident. Why don't we stop acting like children and stop finger-pointing. Go and find out the truth and prevent similar mistakes from happening in future. That's what is important.
Po King Wu
Taipei
I agree with Mike Bigelow (Letters, Nov. 6, page 8). The CKS airport is liable for negligence in allowing the jumbo jet to roll onto the closed runway. It is like leaving a manhole open in the middle of the road and expecting drivers to go only where the street lights are turned on. Unfortunately, I do not see this kind of thinking reflected in most of the news media, which reported that all involved held the pilots entirely responsible, without knowing that the pilots, too, are victims of a poor (and in this case arguably criminal) approach to public safety.
When it comes to responsibility, it's always easier and seems safe to blame the weaker side. And someone in the airport please block the entrance of the closed runway and make that requirement into law !!
Steve Lin
Boston
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