Wow this story is really a black eye if it's taken with full force of the media. Pilots put their faith in ATC. Not all planes have TCAS and radar. Sometimes it's pitch black and you're flying steam gauges and when ATC tells you to climb or turn you climb or turn. We do this because we know we can rely on ATC. What happens when we can't rely on them anymore. Very strict code of confidence here.

I think the guys who pulled this stunt need to made an example of and not a simple firing. Let them keep their jobs but cut their trainer status and make them foot the bill for 6-9 minutes worth of fuel for each jet. Wouldn't be too outrageous but would get the point across and NO ONE would think about doing that again.