The analysts in the articles point out this was a difficult ship to launch with the side launch technique in the best of circumstances, with experience with larger vessels. This yard lacked that. Turned difficult into impossible. The West coast yard had a floating drydock, so their launch went okay. That is the "modern, safe way" to launch vessels this big. This East coast yard lacked a floating drydock, so were forced to attempt a side launch, which is more difficult the larger the vessel. Plus, this yard lacked experience in side launching any large vessels.

So many things could have gone wrong, this was a likely enough result...not long odds. Makes sabotage more of a long odd. Failure of this without sabotage was a strong enough possibility. "All but an inevitability."