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I have seen two different documentaries about this crash that post two very different points of view. It was pretty eye opening to see how the same events could be read in two different ways, and there is no one truth.
The first (American) source blames the (Dutch) KLM jet, saying he had not received a clear authorization from the control tower to take off.
The second (English, and more neutral) source said it was the Pan Am pilot's fault. He was told to use the third slipway to get off the runway, decided this slip was unusable, and was doddering around looking for a fourth.
Really, this accident was an insane combination of about seven factors: a terrorist bombing that diverted both planes to this small airport, thick fog that limited vision, tired and fatigued pilots, and two ambiguous commands that were sent from the control tower.
