Well, there WERE Russian skaters aboard (adjusts foil).
American Airlines Jet Midair Crash Into Blackhawk
- Thread starter wood714
- Start date
Well, there WERE Russian skaters aboard (adjusts foil).
My jaw dropped when he said that, and I muttered "thank you, Captain Obvious"...
I was amazed at the unhinged, utterly moronic comments coming from some people in the aftermath of this tragedy (including wild conspiracy theories). The bodies haven't even been recovered, and various one-watt luminaries have the cause all figured out.
You'd think that respect for the families of the victims would lead people to keep their opinions to themselves and let the investigation proceed, rather than pour salt in open wounds...
It's terrible. There was a group of guys coming home from a hunting trip. A guy I know from work was one of them.
Everybody on that plane has roots in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore area, and many people around here knew one or more of the victims. My girlfriend's daughter is a teacher in Northern Virginia...one of her students was on that plane....she's just crushed...
DoubleNickel, please accept my condolences on the loss of your friend and co-worker...
I saw one such dumb *** explaining how it was an intentional act by the helicopter pilot. He had all of his ducks in a row about how it happened. I am sure a lot more will crawl out from under rocks in the days to come.I was amazed at the unhinged, utterly moronic comments coming from some people in the aftermath of this tragedy (including wild conspiracy theories). The bodies haven't even been recovered, and various one-watt luminaries have the cause all figured out.
You'd think that respect for the families of the victims would lead people to keep their opinions to themselves and let the investigation proceed, rather than pour salt in open wounds...
This was my job...crash firefighting. When you have to go on a mass casualty such as this...It NEVER goes away...NEVER. Laying blame on anyone in this instance is NOT the job of the media or us for that matter. But they Have to make the news ...not report it. Yes the ATC people are overworked in many cases. It's not just the people in the tower...It's really the people working the radio and radar screens...Been there...watched it and don't know how they do it. Stress is the most underutilized word in ATC. And pilots trust their lives to them. Best to just wait till the investigations get done..both civilian and military
Another screen shot. I don't know how there isn't more plane crashes.
And I believe that is just commercial aircraft and does not show military aircraft.....and you have to ask me why I no longer fly.....
tripledipper
Member
The new Sec/Def, with details and info at his disposal, has concluded that the Blackhawk was not flying at the prescribed altitude. When the military version of the black box is recovered it will probably support his findings. The passenger jet was gone in an instant without any warning or fault. The lives of the victims families as well as the first responders will never be the same again as those of us who have lost someone in tragic circumstances or have witnesses a traumatic event are permanently affected. "Time will heal" is a myth, you never forget.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Another screen shot. I don't know how there isn't more plane crashes.
Because those aircraft icons are much larger than the actual aircraft. I remember my flight instructor telling me " big sky, little aircraft". That didn't keep him, however from busting my chops if I didn't keep my head on a swivel and my eyes outside the cockpit.
NTSB just doubled their load, maybe.
LVSteve
Member
It's a good thing it's a big sky. I was present when a RAF officer was viewing a video of a bird migration as seen by a radar. The screen looked solid out to 50-60 nautical miles with a fair number of bird returns beyond that. He looked rather ill, which is no surprise given the RAF's habit of low flying. When we told him that the heavy activity kicks off after dark, he got real quiet. Seems the little birds prefer to travel when the raptors cannot see them.
That's why, when I saw all the red lights on TV I started praying for the First Responders as well as the casualties. Seeing that level of carnage can really mess you up. I know that in the department I'm retired from the Department Psychologist and Peer Support wouldn't be too far away.
ggibson511960
Member
Shared Blame
With today's ADS-B technology it's remarkably easy to see and reconstruct aviation mishaps. The blame game began immediately, focused on the ATC controller and pilots. What goes almost unnoticed is the complicity of high government officials, specifically United States Senators who voted to add 10 daily flight slots to DCA over the objections of aviation safety subject matter experts. DCA is criminally overcrowded, but functions as Congress' convenient private airstrip, dodging the annoyance of a drive to Dulles. A Kansas Senator lobbied American Airlines to add the ill fated flight from Wichita. Much of the Army helicopter training traffic in this beehive is by so called gold top helicopters to shuttle VIP's across crowded landscape, not not military readiness training.
I can only hope that DOGE targets the vast aviation concierge service for bureaucratic and legislative royalty to pampered to take a limousine.
With today's ADS-B technology it's remarkably easy to see and reconstruct aviation mishaps. The blame game began immediately, focused on the ATC controller and pilots. What goes almost unnoticed is the complicity of high government officials, specifically United States Senators who voted to add 10 daily flight slots to DCA over the objections of aviation safety subject matter experts. DCA is criminally overcrowded, but functions as Congress' convenient private airstrip, dodging the annoyance of a drive to Dulles. A Kansas Senator lobbied American Airlines to add the ill fated flight from Wichita. Much of the Army helicopter training traffic in this beehive is by so called gold top helicopters to shuttle VIP's across crowded landscape, not not military readiness training.
I can only hope that DOGE targets the vast aviation concierge service for bureaucratic and legislative royalty to pampered to take a limousine.
LVSteve
Member
Agree 100%...except for the last bit. We have a better chance of the NFA going away.
Hmmmmmm. I wonder why...
Army refuses to identify female Black Hawk pilot killed in DC collision
By Shane Galvin
Published Jan. 31, 2025, 10:30 p.m. ET
Army refuses to identify female Black Hawk pilot killed in DC collision
Army refuses to identify female Black Hawk pilot killed in DC collision
By Shane Galvin
Published Jan. 31, 2025, 10:30 p.m. ET
Army refuses to identify female Black Hawk pilot killed in DC collision
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Ματθιας;142162367 said:
I wouldn't make too much of that. It appears that she had 500 hours, and was with an instructor with over 1,000, as well as a SSG crew chief. All three sets of eyes should have been looking for traffic. It appears that the Blackhawk busted the 200 foot maximum ceiling for rotary traffic in that corridor, possibly by as much as 150 feet, and that they also should have been hugging the east shore. If true, then that is all on the instructor for not keeping the pilot receiving instruction in line. Not to mention that ATC should have noticed the altitude and route discrepancy.
I have a feeling that the NTSB is going to note this, and possibly the use of NVGs that may have caused a misidentification of the third departing aircraft as the one they said they had eyes on. Pretty sure that with all the ground clutter that their vision would have been better without them.
All speculation right now, but it isn't looking good for either ATC or Army Aviation. Hard to fault the commuter jet, at that point all of their focus would have been on the runway environment.
The 500 hours for the PIC is a vague reference and begs the question; Is that 500 hours of time in type or TT? If the flight was a NVG exercise then why were they conducting the flight in a high density corridor? I could go on and on but at this point it is mute point and we won't really know until the ATC tapes etc...are released...if ever.
To say the least, this is a sad situation, and I pray for those that lost their loved ones.
LVSteve
Member
I've not heard a recording where I could say that the helo replied to anything ATC said. That's not surprising either, as none I have heard are recordings from the ATC center. They all sound like scanner traffic, and they might not get a signal from a very low flying aircraft.
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