Janda: There is a forum here that you can't access where members here have shown support for the Brazilian government in keeping the pilots in Brazil while the investigation takes place. Of course, that is the right thing to do, and yes, it's what would be done in the U.S. as well. No one on this forum or who I have talked to has expressed an attitude of the Americans must be right.

What's unfortunate in this whole thing is how one or two people's comments and a very sloppy press can create a very distorted view of things, and in turn stir up a lot of misplaced anger and on both sides (there are plenty of other thing to get worked up about about the US, let's wait on this one). There are a lot of bulletin boards where clearly distraught Brazilians have basically called for the heads of the American pilots before any of the facts are in. (Last I looked there were some very angry and disturbing comments posted to Sharkey's blog and we've had a few sign-up here for that purpose.) The preliminary investigation is not finished. I know you think you're citing facts, but they're not facts. There's very little that's been put out by reputable sources at this point (a US aviation lawyer made one of the more ridiculous comments I've seen). We do know two planes were at the same altitude and they shouldn't have been. We don't know why.

People here grieve for those who died as well. We want to see the proper outcome, whomever is to blame.