ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the basis of professional negligence resulting in the prosecution of pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals by determining the legal basis on which they are prosecuted. It determines whether there are any inconsistencies in the various judicial systems that criminally prosecute aviation professionals. The book considers case studies where aviation professionals have been criminally prosecuted after a serious aviation accident or incident, analyses a number of aviation accidents and examines both the technical investigations and judicial investigation and the subsequent criminalization process. It provides a chronological overview of cases in which aviation professionals were either criminally charged or convicted and sentenced to imprisonment subsequent to an aviation accident, which provides a comprehensive collection of cases and forms a resource in itself.
