another possible element I am curious about, particularly given that this was apparently coming in on 33 - though to be VERY clear, I have NO idea whether this may be related -- there has been a LOT of (successful) local congressional pressure in the recent past to alter the southern approach to DCA to abate noise over the Alexandria/Mt Vernon/Ft. Washington areas.
Even with this tragic incident, the odds are much better than, say, driving. I flew out of DCA just this past Sunday.
This is going to suck worse than anticipated. Our kid's former nanny was big into figure skating. Her mom was a US Olympic judge and was the team mom for the Vancouver Olympics team. She had to quit competing due to a knee injury, but her doubles partner went on to represent the US at the Olympics. KC has a very prominent private skating coach that people come send their kids two. There is a lot of high level skating infrastructure here. No doubt that she knew a lot of people on that plane.
You got some serious issues clown. To bring politics into this incident you’re one coldhearted mother****er. You got hundreds hundreds family members crying their eyes out looking for answers and people like you spread this bullshit is quite sickening. I feel sorry for you in a way. You’re pathetic.
One thing I read elsewhere suggested the controller perhaps could/should have said do you have visual on aircraft to your left. Who knows at this point. I do know I could never be an ATC and I also feel terribly bad for this man whose life will never be the same.
You have as much control over other drivers as this CRJ pilot had over the helicopter pilot.
Not to mention survivability. I've been in car accidents. Most people live through car accidents.
I have to say, may be it's because I'm in medicine, that I have a very different view when it comes to people dying. I'm also fascinated by the psychology of people's reaction to national events. 60ish people died in a preventable plain crash. A tragedy for sure. What I find fascinating is that every day in the US, nearly 9,000 people die. It always makes me wonder why the 60 is more important than the other 8940.
Special airport qualification. My last airline (regional airline where most start) we had 1. Gunnison, CO. You had to have a sim session to qualify to do it. After the sim your first 2 arrivals you had to have an observing check airman in the jumpseat before fully qualified.
Maybe sit the rest of this one out, they are still finding bodies man.
There are a handful of people on this site that have completely lost it and you’ll never convince them of that. They are obsessed beyond reason
Just spitballing here, but perhaps the shocking and jarring nature of some death scenarios has somethng to do with the way the public reacts. Not a matter of "more important".
yeah, ordinarily if they're coming in on the main runway 19, i wouldn't have thought much of it because it's a pretty straight shot from below the wilson bridge. but 33 is a weird approach that basically crosses the river from Md A little more than coming up it. If the helo corridor on the md side is more of a parallel to the river, almost a certainty the two intersect, which might be...something to be thinking about.
My thought is that because it IS national news more people see it, opposed to say local news where 3 people died in an ATV accident. I also liken this to when <celebrity X> is diagnosed with/dies from cancer and people are all "saddened" by that announcement. Thousands of people are diagnosed with/die from cancer every day. I guess it's a normal reaction.
Correct. I’m judging the stupid ****ing response. Not blaming either side for the crash.
Nah, you’d see questions about why air traffic control turned away qualified people in the name of diversity. Rightfully so. Pete wasn’t bad at his job
Unless the helicopter pilot was not listening/suicidal, I have a feeling it will be 95% ATC. A helicopter at 300 feet colliding with a landing plane at 300 feet just should not happen. Maybe its radar signature was not being noticed, maybe their was confusion between multiple ATCs (military and commercial), but this should never ever happen.
Well how many of those 9000 are in assisted living or hospice. Essentially already in the checkout line. Then you have heart attacks, strokes, etc. None of those are avoidable or nearly as dramatic as mid air collision.
Once the helo said they had the aircraft in sight and maintaining visual separation ATC had zero responsibility for traffic separation at that point. Not trying to speculate, but I assume the helicopter had the aircraft behind in sight and never saw the one they should have.
Originally that was assumption too but the more that comes out makes it seem it’s more likely helicopter pilot error 😔
Removing approval for chopper flights during this landing configuration. Changing the tcas system to provide alerts to ground level. Adjusting landing light positioning and switch to flashing type sequencing. Easier to identify.
