The driller on the drill floor never takes his eyes off the pressure gages and is ready to instantly act to contain the gas pressure from below.
I worked for that company, Transocean, and I know all the crews are well trained and the equipment is the best. Don't know what might have gone wrong. They are drilling in deeper water nowadays which makes more complicated.
If something kills the driller, though, then what happens?... wouldn’t you think there would be an electronic fail safe on the system so if there is a rig demolishing catastrophe, the blowout prevention system would automatically kick in?