Comments on: Travel writer’s legal nightmare continues

By: David Schwartz

David Schwartz — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 06:52:34 +0000

It can’t be the fault of the Brazilian air traffic controllers who cleared two aircraft to fly on the same airway, at the same altitude, at the same time, and in opposite directions because they thought the two aircraft were 1,000 feet apart vertically. Never mind that ICAO regulations required at least 2,000 feet of vertical separation. (RVSM is not permitted without a continuous mode C secondary return from both aircraft.)

Blaming the pilots of the small jet because the accident might not have occurred if they had acted differently is akin to blaming the guy who gets hit by a drunk driver because he didn’t need to go out for a Slurpee. Even the loss of mode C returns, though originally caused by pilot action, should have been detected by air traffic controllers. Their failure to promptly detect and report the loss of mode C altitude information is inexcusable and swamps any fault on the part of the pilots in accidentally disabling their transponder.

By: blhlls

blhlls — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:42:07 +0000

Since the US has a significant number of laws allowing citizens of other countries to be prosecuted/sued for actions outside the US, such a law might be a little tricky to defend.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:31:43 +0000

If we, as a nation, are not willing to defend our citizens rights against foreign oppressors, then we are not much of a nation.

There oughta be a law …

Any citizen of a foreign nation, foreign government official of any rank, sovereign, potentate, ot Tin Pot Little Dictator who shall indict, prosecute, or imprison any American Citizen for activities committed outside that foreign country, shall be considered to be waging war as an Unlawful Combatant under the terms of the Hague Convention. The United States may arrest, attack, or terminate said individual at its convenience. The Department of Justice shall establish a system of rewards for carrying out the arrests, attacks, or terminations.

Your law does not run, here.

By: wfjag

wfjag — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:07:15 +0000

Interesting insight into international criminal law. It’s OK to drug and rape a minor, but, don’t write something, however truthful, that might offend, even slightly, a foreign government or nation’s pride.

By: Bill Poser

Bill Poser — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:55:05 +0000

I would hope that the US government would express its displeasure to the government of Brazil, whose Air Force obtains many of its aircraft and munitions from the United States.