Part 5/9:
As they progressed, fuel estimates dwindled alarmingly without prompting immediate concern. Right before noon, the decision-making process began to unravel. With fuel levels nearing legislative minimums, Captain Arminger eventually decided to divert to Vienna, opting for a familiar destination over potentially safer alternatives, like Graz or Zagreb.
The captain’s refusal to declare a fuel emergency, despite the escalating crisis, reflected a troubling psychology at play. Psychological phenomena, such as the plan continuation bias, seemed to inhibit the captain's ability to pivot away from their original plan, even when evidence suggested an impending emergency.