In March, a court in Switzerland found an air traffic controller guilty of negligent disruption of public transport in relation to an operational incident at Zurich Airport six-and-a-half years ago. No one was injured in the incident. The conviction marks the third time in a year that Swiss prosecutors have won a conviction against a controller for an operational incident.
The Swiss cases and similar recent events represent an uptick in legal actions that is effectively criminalizing aviation incidents and accidents. This can have a chilling effect on the flow of crucial safety information and a long-term adverse impact on safety. Holding controllers, pilots and aviation maintenance technicians criminally liable for honest mistakes ultimately threatens the safety of the traveling public.
The sole objective of an aircraft accident or incident investigation is the prevention of future accidents and incidents. As the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plainly states in Ann…
