Recounts three major aviation disasters, each resulting from human error, technological shortcomings, and weaknesses in air traffic control. The first case describes the 2002 mid-air collision over Germany, involving a Russian passenger jet carrying children and a DHL cargo plane. The crash was influenced by conflicting instructions between air traffic control and the aircrafts’ collision avoidance systems (TCAS), as well as the controller’s isolated working conditions. The second account covers the 1986 mid-air collision over Cerritos near Los Angeles, where an Aero Mexico DC-9 collided with a private plane due to outdated radar and a distracted controller. The third narrative examines the 1991 runway collision at LAX, when a US Air jet and a SkyWest commuter plane were both cleared to use the same runway by a lone controller, leading to a catastrophic impact. Together, these incidents highlight the critical need for reliable air traffic systems, proper controller staffing, and collision avoidance technologies, while also underscoring the human toll of aviation accidents and the regulatory reforms implemented in response.
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