Airbus A380 Takes Out RJ700 at JFK

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by sharkbit

I don't see how any blame can be placed on the FAA. The A380 pilots screwed up, pure and simple, especially if ATC told them to hold. The PIC is solely responsible for operation of the aircraft.

I don't see how one could blame the FAA either. I only said my first inclination was to blame them.

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

additionally, if i understood the ATC audio correctly, the airbus was told very specifically to hold position and give way to the parking CRJ, an instruction the airbus crew acknowledged - in which case the A380 driver should have stopped until it was undeniably evident that the wing was going to clear the obstruction.

Having listened to the recording, this isn't quite what took place. The "give way" instruction to AF007 was for opposite direction traffic which, given the short gap between instruction and collision, couldn't apply to the CRJ. Also, the instruction has the AF giving way at Kilo Delta, whereas the hit with the CRJ happened at intersections of Mike and Alpha, which is a long way further down taxiway Alpha.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...0610AD.svg.png

The AF was not in violation of any clearance from Kennedy Ground, but the AF crew was lacking in situational awareness. I think the CRJ was close enough to it's gate that it may have looked to the AF PIC like there was the normal amount of space.