> Airlines decided it would be cheaper to cut that position and here we are.

It's not that easy tbh - the advent of digital monitoring systems, fly-by-wire and glass cockpits plainly eliminated the need for it.

On the other hand EASA is pushing for research into single-pilot operations [1]... now that is nuts.

[1] https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/research-projects/emco-sipo-ex...

Aviation is still much safer than back in the days where 3 or even 4 crew in the flight deck were standard. At some point the tradeoff between increased safety and increasing costs becomes unreasonable.

Manufacturers made planes that didn't need it, making their plane's TOC more attractive.

"here we are."

Here where precisely? Civil aviation is extremely safe in 2024, and this crash made worldwide news precisely because crashes are now very rare in the developed world.

If you demand 100 per cent safety, you are bound to be disappointed forever. Not even walking is 100 per cent safe.