[chikenf00t]

I guess the idea is that it potentially could have cost $500 million therefore it was a $500 million mistake. It's not exactly accurate but it does help contextualize the gravity of their mistake.

[magicalhippo]

Reminds me of my favorite George Carlin bit[1]:

Here's one they just made up: "near miss". When two planes almost collide, they call it a near miss. It's a near hit. A collision is a near miss.

[1]: https://www.quotes.net/mquote/35854