How Bureaucracy Can Kill

Last week, 154 people came within minutes of losing their lives. The cause of this near-death experience? Bureaucracy.

On July 23, Allegiant Airlines Flight 426 radioed to air traffic control in Fargo, N.D., upon approach. The pilot told the tower he was critically low on fuel and needed clearance to land within the next five minutes.

Air traffic control (ATC) denied the request since a Blue Angels air show rehearsal was underway. ATC suggested the plane land elsewhere. Here’s how the convers...