This is a petition...pls read on...it should take no more than 5 minutes.

I am sure that over the past week, we have followed the reports on the tragic SQ006 flight.  However, after reading some articles regarding the tragedy, it was sad to read comments like how some people were glad that the pilots were still alive so that they can pay for their mistakes. Even worse, some families are trying to force the pilots to attend the funeral wakes of some victims.

Sure, no one disputes the fact that 'human error' did play a part in the tragedy. But then, were there other factors too?  Till date, no one can say for sure that there were no other factors to blame.  However, were people too quick to look for someone to blame? Some scapegoats? So much so that before any conclusive findings were made, we heard talk of how the crew was going to be charged.  Of course the 1st few reports after the initial finding that the plane was indeed on the wrong runway kept highlighting the point that it was pilot error. That only made matters worse.

Some of us here felt that we should not be so quick in finding scapegoats and point the fingers at anyone yet.  Even if at the end of the day, investigations do show that it was entirely the pilots' fault, let us remember a few points:

1. They were in the crash too.  It is a risk that pilots have to take every time they fly.
2. They will live with that guilt for the rest of their lives (whether or it was entirely their fault)
3. We don't think it was done on purpose.
4. Who knows what the future holds for them, they have a family to support too.
5. Right now, we are sure that they are having continuous flashbacks of what happened.
6. Trust me, to be questioned continuously about the incident now is definitely most depressing and distressing.  None of us wants that.
7. During the day of the tragic accident, the weather conditions and maybe even the airport was not as ideal as can be.

Pls note that we are not petitioning for the pilots' innocence but rather for the relevant people and authorities and maybe even the media to pls, take the pilots' viewpoints into consideration too. We are asking that:

1. All help possible be rendered to the pilots and their families.
2. Ensure that all reports are balanced and not out to find scapegoats.
3. Counseling and support be given to the pilots and their families.
4. A fair and thorough investigation be conducted.
5. Ensure that the pilots and their families are adequately protected; there are people who are understandably angry with them.

Our plan is to get as many names as possible on this petition, send it to the papers, CNA, Asiaone, SIA, etc.  One newspaper has even mentioned that if we can get 100 names by this week, they may feature our petition as a page one story.  So, if you want to be included, pls mail me back to let me know and your name will be included in the consolidated list. Pls
remember by this week.  If you have other people interested but not on this list pls
consolidate and let me have their names as well.

We want the victims and their relatives & friends to know that we grieve with them throughout this whole tragedy, but then lets not forget the pilots and their families too.