Not too hard to imagine, unfortunately.
They didn't have a clue, and it is not too surprising. They both had only a few days in country, and heaven knows what kind of experience or credentials they had when hired. They were not professional; indeed they were incredible fools.
Blackwater (aka, Xe) and Presidential Airlines are a for-profit company. They hire cheap unemployed pilots. Blackwater lacks the oversight, chain of command, command and control, and the personal dedication and training of the military.... or even the airlines. They recruit and overpay unemployed "cowboys" cheaply. And their employee's many mistakes like this have unnecessarily cost many difficulties for our military, not to mention lives.
I doubt most anyone on this forum regardless of experience and using only logic, if in charge, would have hired and let these two bozo pilots fly in mountainous terrain and hostile territory with important passengers onboard, without better screening, specific training, an experienced pilot onboard, and some dry training runs, etc. But that all costs money. $$$$$ More important than lives?
