Plane crash DCA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is horrible, and I feel so badly for the families and loved ones.

Real question -- is DCA simply unsafe to fly in and out of? Too much traffic over the Potomac to be safe? Was this inevitable? I just checked the upcoming flights I have and they are out of Dulles and I'm tempted to not fly out of DCA again, even though I usually have.

It’s been too busy for a long time. And its take off/approach is one of the most complicated in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wht happens at Mt Weather?

It's where senior federal govt officials would run the nation if DC got nuked:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Weather_Emergency_Operations_Center

They do annual continuity of government exercises there. It's staffed 24/7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want everyone also to say a prayer and hold in their hearts all the law enforcement and fire rescue/recovery divers that jumped into dark freezing water last night and swam through jet fuel and dangerous debris, only to be met with a plan full of dead teenagers. They should have the thanks, prayers, and support of all of us. I cannot imagine anything more scary and horrific. I hope they are all getting excellent mental health support.

Your post gave me the chills. Yes. Horrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like firing a lot of government works ends up being expensive and dangerous.

They killed 60 people, some our most talented athletes.

The military or someone is going to have to pay out a lot of money.

So much for cutting jobs to “save money.”

I love all the “winning.”

This is on President Musk and Trump.

+1000

Yep FAFO. Here's a great idea, let's lay some FAA people off now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like firing a lot of government works ends up being expensive and dangerous.

They killed 60 people, some our most talented athletes.

The military or someone is going to have to pay out a lot of money.

So much for cutting jobs to “save money.”

I love all the “winning.”

This is on President Musk and Trump.

This. News flash government workers are actually valuable. This ain't twitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume the 3 people in the helicopter died too?

I haven't heard much about that or any type of military briefing.

DoD is not known for transparency. They are also notoriously slow to accept responsibility for service member’s deaths, let alone the deaths of a plane full of civilians.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OK, it's been 12 hours since the crash.

Not one word, not one peep out of DoD.

Where the hell is Hegseth, or at a minimum, his "crackerjack" experienced spokesman John Ullyot?

Ullyot had no problem getting the word out that they were stripping Milley of clearances just a few hours earlier.

Be he's mum on this???

Secretary BoozeBag’s “statement” was a tweet that said his department was “poised to assist if needed.” MFer, your department CAUSED this accident, so put down the Pappy and do your freaking job. They are all such cowards.

This is wrong. Both hegseth and trump issued statements before 11:00 last night. Not fans of either but this is incorrect.

WH put out generic statement. Trump was absent until 1 am and then blamed the air traffic controllers at the agency where he had just fired their director and many others.

Then Trump wrote “NOT GOOD” like a six year old.

Also blamed the soldiers who were flying the Blackhawk, as any decent Commander-In-Chief would do.

Well I suppose that makes it easy for the families to demand the US compensate them for their loss, one that could have been prevented. It doesn’t so in d like he’s prepared to give them answers.

Jumping to defaming people with no investigation or fact finding is so incredibly toxic and irresponsible.

Well maybe the military will finally understand he doesn’t care about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, it's been 12 hours since the crash.

Not one word, not one peep out of DoD.

Where the hell is Hegseth, or at a minimum, his "crackerjack" experienced spokesman John Ullyot?

Ullyot had no problem getting the word out that they were stripping Milley of clearances just a few hours earlier.

Be he's mum on this???

Secretary BoozeBag’s “statement” was a tweet that said his department was “poised to assist if needed.” MFer, your department CAUSED this accident, so put down the Pappy and do your freaking job. They are all such cowards.

This is wrong. Both hegseth and trump issued statements before 11:00 last night. Not fans of either but this is incorrect.

WH put out generic statement. Trump was absent until 1 am and then blamed the air traffic controllers at the agency where he had just fired their director and many others.

Then Trump wrote “NOT GOOD” like a six year old.

His first statement said “praying for their souls” at a point when they were still in rescue mode officially. He may have been briefed that there were likely no survivors but it’s super tacky to say you’re praying for the soul of someone when there are still search and rescue operations to find them. It’s a small sign that he is just not processing details correctly.

“Souls” is a commonly used terms in this situation. It has nautical origins. Doing this for the next 4 years or more is really not healthy for your mind or soul. Stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume the 3 people in the helicopter died too?

I haven't heard much about that or any type of military briefing.

DoD is not known for transparency. They are also notoriously slow to accept responsibility for service member’s deaths, let alone the deaths of a plane full of civilians.

They have so many families grieving. These families will be relentless in figuring out why their loved ones are gone and there's nothing the DOD can do about that

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know whether helicopters crossing are supposed to wait for an affirmative okay to cross from the ATC, or whether they can cross unless told NOT to cross by ATC?

This does seem like a crazy intersection to me.

Military missions have different rules. They also are on different frequencies (although monitoring tower.) This is their normal route. It intersects the circle to land pattern for the short runway. It’s a dumb as crap situation and has been a disaster waiting to happen for years. Has nothing to do with how many flights there are at DCA or politics. The scopes are out and show this was a developing situation that ATC didn’t deconflict. And the helo pilot didn’t maintain visual separation. This was completely avoidable and while claiming trump or musk might feel good this one isn’t their fault.

It has everything to do with more flights. The helicopter pilot was confused because there were three planes up there with him. He thought he was visualizing the one ATC asked about. But oops! There was another plane up there he couldn’t see! The industry knew this was just a matter of time, but they wanted to keep adding new flights to the busiest runway in the nation.

https://www.protectregionalairports.com/2024/01/26/dca-is-still-the-busiest-runway-in-the-nation/

Where are you getting info that the pilot was "confused" -- how could he not see the plane he was literally flying toward for most of the end of its flight path?

I agree about the bad flight path and the overcrowding of the airport, but this made up narrative makes not sense in this situation.

Because on the ATC recording, they ask the helicopter if he sees the plane approaching and he says yes. Unfortunately ATC and the helicopter were not referring to the same plane.

I asked a pilot and he said no way, the other plane was too far away for this error.

Please explain the recording then. Helicopter confirms they see the plane (the correct one according to your ahem, "pilot friend") and then what? Proceeds to fly into it anyway? Explain what your pilot friend says happened.

I don’t hear the helicopter conforming anything when he was asked that, about before they reached Haines point, plenty of time to respond and stay on the east bank.

Can someone actually confirm the help responded at T-60 seconds?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Biden and their administration signed off on the added flights a year ago. Again the blame game doesn't work. This is a tragedy some changes will need to happen like making sure helos and airplanes are on the same frequency , this could have happened with a police or even news chopper.

The number of flights wasn't the issue here. Helicopter routes shouldn't be so close to the runway approach. Especially at night.

Why was the helicopter so close to the plane

It was focused on other planes and thought it was Ok. Poor comms. Dark at night.

You are guessing. But that seems implausible given the flight path and the fact that they had to be looking straight at the plane before impact. It seems impossible for them to not see the brightly lit plane they flying toward.

Who gets to listen to the dark box and wtf was really going in or discussing in the cockpit of the helo the last 2 mins of its river trip?

NTSB and DOD.

[Anonymous]

This was such a sad and horrific event.

To bad people on here are taking advantage of the situation to gripe some more and continue their hateful diatribe. Sadly, you will feel no shame. Let’s let this be about those lost and those working at the site for at least 24 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know whether helicopters crossing are supposed to wait for an affirmative okay to cross from the ATC, or whether they can cross unless told NOT to cross by ATC?

This does seem like a crazy intersection to me.

Military missions have different rules. They also are on different frequencies (although monitoring tower.) This is their normal route. It intersects the circle to land pattern for the short runway. It’s a dumb as crap situation and has been a disaster waiting to happen for years. Has nothing to do with how many flights there are at DCA or politics. The scopes are out and show this was a developing situation that ATC didn’t deconflict. And the helo pilot didn’t maintain visual separation. This was completely avoidable and while claiming trump or musk might feel good this one isn’t their fault.

It has everything to do with more flights. The helicopter pilot was confused because there were three planes up there with him. He thought he was visualizing the one ATC asked about. But oops! There was another plane up there he couldn’t see! The industry knew this was just a matter of time, but they wanted to keep adding new flights to the busiest runway in the nation.

https://www.protectregionalairports.com/2024/01/26/dca-is-still-the-busiest-runway-in-the-nation/

Where are you getting info that the pilot was "confused" -- how could he not see the plane he was literally flying toward for most of the end of its flight path?

I agree about the bad flight path and the overcrowding of the airport, but this made up narrative makes not sense in this situation.

Because on the ATC recording, they ask the helicopter if he sees the plane approaching and he says yes. Unfortunately ATC and the helicopter were not referring to the same plane.

I asked a pilot and he said no way, the other plane was too far away for this error.

Please explain the recording then. Helicopter confirms they see the plane (the correct one according to your ahem, "pilot friend") and then what? Proceeds to fly into it anyway? Explain what your pilot friend says happened.

I don’t hear the helicopter conforming anything when he was asked that, about before they reached Haines point, plenty of time to respond and stay on the east bank.

Can someone actually confirm the help responded at T-60 seconds?

It seems like they did because the tower approves visual separation, but we can’t hear that part on this recording. Everyone can hear the tower but not everything from everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want everyone also to say a prayer and hold in their hearts all the law enforcement and fire rescue/recovery divers that jumped into dark freezing water last night and swam through jet fuel and dangerous debris, only to be met with a plan full of dead teenagers. They should have the thanks, prayers, and support of all of us. I cannot imagine anything more scary and horrific. I hope they are all getting excellent mental health support.

Heroes. All of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want everyone also to say a prayer and hold in their hearts all the law enforcement and fire rescue/recovery divers that jumped into dark freezing water last night and swam through jet fuel and dangerous debris, only to be met with a plan full of dead teenagers. They should have the thanks, prayers, and support of all of us. I cannot imagine anything more scary and horrific. I hope they are all getting excellent mental health support.

Parts. They were recovering bodies, and body parts.

And yes, in icy waters. The ice actually made getting bodies/debris out of the water complicated, and also impeded transport of same to the designated areas.

Bless those willing to go into the wreckage.