Midair Collision Near Reagan National Sends Plane into Potomac River

[TedG]

8 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

  This incident has nothing to do with DC VIPS.  

 

 

 

The helo in question exists to fly VIPs around DC.  

[sqwakvfr]

17 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

According to the video above, the military helicopter took over responsibility for "visual" separation at night, that's just bonkers! A busy airport with multiple planes landing on that runway, and the ATC hands over safety to a helicopter trying to cross the runway path?!

An aviation expert on the DC Fox station claimed the Blackhawk was on a check ride?  I thought no way because why would an examiner take a check ride flight through a busy commercial airport at night.  The other claim that i believe is untrue is that the Blackhawk crew were on NVG's (Night Vision Goggles).  NVG's are worn for actual mission or mission training not while operating inside of Class B or D airspace and at night.  

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, sqwakvfr said:

An aviation expert on the DC Fox station claimed the Blackhawk was on a check ride?  I thought no way because why would an examiner take a check ride flight through a busy commercial airport at night.  The other claim that i believe is untrue is that the Blackhawk crew were on NVG's (Night Vision Goggles).  NVG's are worn for actual mission or mission training not while operating inside of Class B or D airspace and at night.  

 

I read an article a few minutes ago, where they state the helicopter was not at a proper height or the correct flight path for military helicopters travelling though that area.

[sqwakvfr]

3 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I read an article a few minutes ago, where they state the helicopter was not at a proper height or the correct flight path for military helicopters travelling though that area.

I saw another expert who said  rotor wing aircraft have to be at or below 200 MSL.  

[lordgrinz]

Just now, sqwakvfr said:

I saw another expert who said  rotor wing aircraft have to be at or below 200 MSL.  

 

Yup, the article said he should have been at no higher than 200 ft and near the east bank of the river, and he was half a mile off the approved route.

[spidermike007]

7 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I know, but obviously flying helicopters through flight paths and landing zones for airliners at a busy airport isn't working out to well. The military helicopters should for now on ask for clearance before entering, and hold until given the OK to proceed.

There was no reason whatsoever for them to have been in the flight path to begin with, especially with an approaching commercial jet full of passengers. That makes absolutely no sense and it had to have been pilot error on the part of the fool who was flying this chopper, or a serious breach on the part of air traffic control. 

[soi3eddie]

There is talk online that the helicopter pilot was Jo Ellis a transgender person.  

https://www.smerconish.com/exclusive-content/living-to-serve-living-as-myself-a-transgender-service-members-perspective/

 

Just looking at the BBC who list plane and helicopter occupants, but only name two of the three people on the helicopter. Jo Ellis not mentioned. Neither was it stated who was pilot flying. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyjpwxx22ko

 

Not seen any official notice of the pilot flying the helicopter but why would Trump go off on DEI like he did in his speech?

 

Is this pure speculation or is there really truth in this?

 

[soi3eddie]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There was no reason whatsoever for them to have been in the flight path to begin with, especially with an approaching commercial jet full of passengers. That makes absolutely no sense and it had to have been pilot error on the part of the fool who was flying this chopper, or a serious breach on the part of air traffic control. 

 

Totally agree that it makes no sense. Helicopter was well off the air corrider for helicopters and way higher than it should have been. 350ft instead of 200ft maximum. 

[Social Media]

Update:

 

Washington DC plane crash live: US army helicopter ‘was off course’

Black Hawk aircraft was allegedly at least 100 feet higher than permitted and was half-a-mile off its agreed flight path when the collision happened over the Potomac. The US army helicopter reportedly deviated from its approved flight path, it has emerged.

 

The Black Hawk pilot asked air traffic control for permission to use a specific, predetermined route that lets helicopters fly no higher than 200 feet. This route — referred to as Route 4 at Reagan international airport — hugs the east bank of the Potomac, which would have meant it avoided the American Airlines plane.

 

The helicopter pilot confirmed visual sight of the plane and the air traffic controller instructed the helicopter pilot to follow the route and go behind the plane. But he did not follow the intended route, the New York Times reported, citing four people briefed on the matter said. Rather, the helicopter was above 300 feet, not below 200 feet, and was at least half-a-mile off the approved route when it collided with the jet.

 

Source

https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/dc-plane-crash-trump-dei-victims-pilot-latest-news-9hprgjlgw

[Rimmer]

Multiple off topic posts have been removed, topic is about a tragic air crash, stay on topic please.

[MicroB]

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes standards can slip under weak and incompetent leadership.

 

I'm sure Trump will sort this immediately. 

 

 

So far, the main action is for the White House to remove this announcement from their website.