A difference in cultures. Western cultures look at things slightly differently. There are many with the proper training, proper resources , who just don't happen to be in the right place at the right time. Penicillin is an example. A culture was found killing other Microbial growths. The right person, with the right training, found it at the right time.
With the growth of statistics in western industrial work, luck definitely plays a role. Sometimes, its only by chance a problem is found. Cost cutting is done using statistics to "prove" additional testing is not needed. Often, these errors are only caught by luck. Been down that road several times.
Regardless, I will always wish friends good luck!!