Midair Collision Near Reagan National Sends Plane into Potomac River

[newnative]

8 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

They are saying the Blackhawk was on a training mission, who the heck was in charge of this failed training mission?! 

And, why were they training near a very busy airport?

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, Walker88 said:

Passengers include the US National Figure Skating Team, the coaches and family members, plus 2 Russian skating champions.  

 

 

 

The second time this has happened. The first was in 1961. 

https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/filling-void-memories-lost-friends-still-vivid-ludingtons

[PomPolo]

9 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Why on earth would a military aircraft be crossing the path of an inbound aircraft in commercial airspace near an airport?!

Couldn't agree more with this.  I think sometimes military aircraft get carte-blanche as to where they want to fly however that close to an airport they should have been on the approach tower frequency and been aware of any close traffic.  A total tragedy at the same time and probably not worth speculating on anything just yet even though it may seem obvious.

Very very sad

[tomazbodner]

17 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

The second time this has happened. The first was in 1961. 

https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/filling-void-memories-lost-friends-still-vivid-ludingtons

Another crash in that river was Air Florida in 1982. Alas for different reasons.

[khunJam]

7 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Have you heard the playback?

Why are you following me around and hitting on me? You’re not my type besides I’m not gay. Ok!?

[Ben Zioner]

9 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Shocking that it happen just over 3 miles south of the White House and the Capitol.

Yes that sounds like a wasted opportunity. 64 wasted lives, sad.

 

R.I.P

 

 

[rabas]

1 hour ago, newnative said:

And, why were they training near a very busy airport?

 

Because that's where these guys have to fly. This UH-60 Blackhawk's squadron, based near by, is responsible for flying officials and VIPS around Washington including to the airport.  That doesn't make it a wise thing to do, but apparently Washington DC is a challenging air space. Some have suggested a problem waiting to happen. 

[rabas]

Some have suggested the helicopter may have been distracted by an outbound flight but the outbound flight was well in the helicopter's rear and traveling away by that time.  But, there was an equally distant and closing incoming flight, with its headlights pointing right at the helicopter.  The much smaller Canadian plane that collided  was approaching from the heli's upper left. 

 

So yes, maybe the heli was distracted by another plane. Who looks to the upper left when a big bright plane is bearing down from straight ahead. 

 

Here is a beautiful simulation (already) where you can see this perspective for yourself in 3D. What do you think?

 

[rabas]

Here's another video from youtube. 

 

1. Air traffic control radar and communication from well before. [https://youtu.be/CiOybe-NJHk?t=93

 

2. Air traffic control radar and communication from shortly before crash. "PAT25 (patrol-25) do you see that plane?" 

 

 

[Walker88]

In a WH Press conference, long before any actual investigation and cause has been determined by actual experts, the new President has decided the DEI policies of the previous Administration are at fault for the crash.

 

That is cold, and based on nothing. The clown has no clue what ATC officers were on duty, nor their background nor why and how they were appointed. He just has decided to use a tragedy as yet another political attack on anyone who isn't him.

 

He's an absolutely vile excuse for a human being. Imagine how his idiotic comments have hurt family members of the deceased.

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, rabas said:

Some have suggested the helicopter may have been distracted by an outbound flight but the outbound flight was well in the helicopter's rear and traveling away by that time.  But, there was an equally distant and closing incoming flight, with its headlights pointing right at the helicopter.  The much smaller Canadian plane that collided  was approaching from the heli's upper left. 

 

So yes, maybe the heli was distracted by another plane. Who looks to the upper left when a big bright plane is bearing down from straight ahead. 

 

Why on Earth would ATC allow the helicopter to enter airspace even remotely close to that runway with an aircraft landing? Wouldn't they tell the helicopter to hold its position until the aircraft landed? I mean a helicopter can hover for a moment, right?

[Tug]

38 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

In a WH Press conference, long before any actual investigation and cause has been determined by actual experts, the new President has decided the DEI policies of the previous Administration are at fault for the crash.

 

That is cold, and based on nothing. The clown has no clue what ATC officers were on duty, nor their background nor why and how they were appointed. He just has decided to use a tragedy as yet another political attack on anyone who isn't him.

 

He's an absolutely vile excuse for a human being. Imagine how his idiotic comments have hurt family members of the deceased.

Ditto…..this happened on your watch trump!this breaks 19 years since the last big one in the USA!my deepest condolences to the bereaved…….what a dirtbag of a president disgraceful.

[Walker88]

30 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Why on Earth would ATC allow the helicopter to enter airspace even remotely close to that runway with an aircraft landing? Wouldn't they tell the helicopter to hold its position until the aircraft landed? I mean a helicopter can hover for a moment, right?

The military and ATC are not on the same radio system, so the ATC has no control over where the helicopter goes. No way to contact. Base ATC warned the helicopter.

 

That mil base  has both constant training ops and carries VIPs around the DC/Virginia area. When training they are supposed to stay at 200 feet AGL or below. That copter was apparently at 400' AGL.

[Jingthing]

49 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

In a WH Press conference, long before any actual investigation and cause has been determined by actual experts, the new President has decided the DEI policies of the previous Administration are at fault for the crash.

 

That is cold, and based on nothing. The clown has no clue what ATC officers were on duty, nor their background nor why and how they were appointed. He just has decided to use a tragedy as yet another political attack on anyone who isn't him.

 

He's an absolutely vile excuse for a human being. Imagine how his idiotic comments have hurt family members of the deceased.

Total SCUM!

[Jingthing]

3 hours ago, rabas said:

 

Because that's where these guys have to fly. This UH-60 Blackhawk's squadron, based near by, is responsible for flying officials and VIPS around Washington including to the airport.  That doesn't make it a wise thing to do, but apparently Washington DC is a challenging air space. Some have suggested a problem waiting to happen. 

That airport should have been closed decades ago. The safety issues have always been known. Dulles was built to replace it.  It could have been kept open for military and security purposes of course.

[DonniePeverley]

That press conference by Trump was beyond sick. 

 

 

 

Let the families grieve, before you politicise whatever the hell you are on about. Let the investigation conclude.

 

 

 

Grim beyond belief. 

[BKKKevin]

11 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

In subsequent news conference Trump (With no facts or evidence about what caused the accident) on queue blames his latest boogeyman DEI hires… 

 

[Peabody]

2 hours ago, Walker88 said:

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