ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the debriefing as Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) intervention on the basis of a tragic accident. The debriefing requires guidance by a mental health professional and peer support. On 1 July 2002 there was a mid-air collision of two aircraft north of the town Uberlingen near Lake Constance in Southern Germany. The aircraft involved were a Tupolew TU 154 M en route from Moscow (Russia) to Barcelona (Spain) and a Boeing en route from Bergamo (Italy) to Brussels (Belgium). Both aircraft were being controlled by the area control center in Zurich (Switzerland) at the time of the collision. The accident happened over German territory. At the time of the accident, the Swiss air navigation services organization skyguide had its own Crisis Management Program. The CISM team members introduce themselves and explain the rules and procedures of the debriefings. It is emphasized that the debriefing does not depict an investigation.
