All flights halted at Reagan National Airport due to plane crash

[DB]

I agree, but I don't know what obstacles exist over there, either. Ideally, they would never be in each other's airspace and transit corridors would not intersect.

Fox News is now reporting that the helicopter wasn't within its approved flight plan, that it was supposed to stay below 200' and it was supposed to stay near the east bank but was miles off the approved corridor. If true, that was the cause of the crash.

Correction, they were apparently 1/2 mile out of the corridor they were supposed to be in.

[Lando Lincoln]

There is a reasonable likelihood that DEI policy and practice prevented the hiring of qualified people because they failed to fit the necessary criteria. A short staff was more desirable than hiring a _____ person.

[dfwgator]

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

It appears that on the 28th of January, she went on the smerconish podcast in a tell all...

Seems this was a suicide plan due to President Trump announcing all transgenders are being thrown out of the military.

 

Is this legit?   

[DCPatriot]

Is this legit?   

Evidently, NOT... she is not listed as being inside the blackhawk involved.

I'll take down the post...

But geezy peezy ----- how many transgenders who fly Blackhawks are stationed in Fr. Belvoir, Virginia??  

[Drago]

You would think that when in the direct flight path of the runways that the helicopter elevation window would be limited to between 100 and 250 feet and to stay on the far side of the river away from the airport. Then it would be nearly impossible for a plane or boat to converge with their flight path.

There IS a 200 foot AGL (upper) altitude restriction for helicopters flying the pre-defined helicopter routes over the Potomac river...apparently the Blackhawk exceeded that altitude limit.

"Route 1" to "Route 4" on this map...(200' AGL upper limit in the DCA area):

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff553d2af-d749-4456-9e75-b3a085c7f0a7_2854x1892.png

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/productcatalog/vfrcharts/helicopter/

[DCPatriot]

Is this legit?   

@dfwgator   

The Jo Ellis Facebook page, below. The avatar picture of a black ribbon with AA5342 under it is in the "Photos" section with a timestamp of 4 hours ago.[/size}

"I'M SO CONFUSED!!!" ----- Vinnie Barbarino

[Timber Rattler]

Everybody looking for ulterior motives or some hidden conspiracy...COME ON PEOPLE!  It was simple pilot and maybe ATC errors in a very congested, tightly restricted air space, on a dark and windy night over the Potomac.  It was bound to happen, especially with ATC severely undermanned as we now know.  This is an institutional and systemic failure due to congressional and agency neglect, and nothing else.  The conspiracy theories are driving me crazy!!!   

[mountaineer]

I'm hesitant to run with the "trans pilot" allegation without more evidence or an acknowledgment from the Army. Everything can be faked online. However, if there is anything to it - and it's a BIG IF - it's probably fair to question whether it's related to the Antifa-related trans terror cell (linked to at least six homicides) on which Andy Ngo has reported.

As for DEI in the control tower, that's a legitimate criticism and a real safety concern - but we have no evidence it's played a part in this particular crash.

[Timber Rattler]

I'm hesitant to run with the "trans pilot" allegation without more evidence or an acknowledgment from the Army. Everything can be faked online.

That's absurd in the first place.  More fringe blog nonsense.

[mountaineer]

That's absurd in the first place.  More fringe blog nonsense.

It's astounding how quickly such stories spring up, complete with graphics and probably fake social media posts.

[Wingnut]

I'm hesitant to run with the "trans pilot" allegation without more evidence or an acknowledgment from the Army. Everything can be faked online. However, if there is anything to it - and it's a BIG IF - it's probably fair to question whether it's related to the Antifa-related trans terror cell (linked to at least six homicides) on which Andy Ngo has reported.

As for DEI in the control tower, that's a legitimate criticism and a real safety concern - but we have no evidence it's played a part in this particular crash.

This is making the rounds on the "Trans" pilot. 

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

[DCPatriot]

This is making the rounds on the "Trans" pilot. 

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6LN4_YmzBM

@Timber Rattler    Get with the program, Slick!!   

[Timber Rattler]

@Timber Rattler    Get with the program, Slick!!   

Uh no!  There is ZERO evidence that this Army pilot was a tranny hell-bent on a suicide mission, and it is just stupid and disrespectful to even suggest that based on this bloggy nonsense.  This female pilot was not even the commander on the mission, since her boss was in the left seat and answering the calls from the ATC, while the crew chief sat in the back and was on look-out.  It was a routine training and certification flight that went sideways.  And I'm not even going down the sexist "woman pilot" hole---I've known several very good women military pilots over the years, and their gender has nothing to do with their airmanship skills or lack thereof.  So knock it off!

So now, I'm not going to stew in some delusional program that sees a conspiracy under every stone.

[mystery-ak]

Chief Warrant Office 2 Andrew Eaves, of Mississippi, was identified as one of the pilots of the doomed Army Black Hawk. (U.S. Armed Forces)

[Wingnut]

So now, I'm not going to stew in some delusional program that sees a conspiracy under every stone.

Well since so many of the past conspiracy theory's have been proven true I think we need some new ones.  So there is that.

[MeganC]

Everybody looking for ulterior motives or some hidden conspiracy...COME ON PEOPLE!  It was simple pilot and maybe ATC errors in a very congested, tightly restricted air space, on a dark and windy night over the Potomac.  It was bound to happen, especially with ATC severely undermanned as we now know.  This is an institutional and systemic failure due to congressional and agency neglect, and nothing else.  The conspiracy theories are driving me crazy!!!   

If there is a conspiracy it is in the potential cover up.

[DCPatriot]

Uh no!  There is ZERO evidence that this Army pilot was a tranny hell-bent on a suicide mission, and it is just stupid and disrespectful to even suggest that based on this bloggy nonsense.  This female pilot was not even the commander on the mission, since her boss was in the left seat and answering the calls from the ATC, while the crew chief sat in the back and was on look-out.  It was a routine training and certification flight that went sideways.  And I'm not even going down the sexist "woman pilot" hole---I've known several very good women military pilots over the years, and their gender has nothing to do with their airmanship skills or lack thereof.  So knock it off!

So now, I'm not going to stew in some delusional program that sees a conspiracy under every stone.

@Timber Rattler  Bless your heart! LOL!  There's so much I wish I could say to you.  However, at my age...with my blood pressure, and out of total respect for @mystery-ak and @Cyber Liberty and the rest of members I consider 'family'... will take the high road and try to utilize my scroll wheel.

PS:  It hasn't gone unnoticed just how certain NT members have once again slithered under their rocks since January 20th.

PS:  BTW... @Right_in_Virginia should be on TBR's Mount Rushmore and inducted in our Hall of Fame.

[DCPatriot]

If there is a conspiracy it is in the potential cover up.

@MeganC   @Wingnut

So true...  It's like we're all living in "THE SUM OF ALL FEARS 2"

This morning a son called me to suggest that "Jo Ellis" was already thrown into a wood chipper and the Blackhawk was converted into a drone.   

[Wingnut]

@MeganC   @Wingnut

So true...  It's like we're all living in "THE SUM OF ALL FEARS 2"

This morning a son called me to suggest that "Jo Ellis" was already thrown into a wood chipper and the Blackhawk was converted into a drone.   

Oy vey!  That's a good one!

[DB]

There IS a 200 foot AGL (upper) altitude restriction for helicopters flying the pre-defined helicopter routes over the Potomac river...apparently the Blackhawk exceeded that altitude limit.

"Route 1" to "Route 4" on this map...(200' AGL upper limit in the DCA area):

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff553d2af-d749-4456-9e75-b3a085c7f0a7_2854x1892.png

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/productcatalog/vfrcharts/helicopter/

Yep, the helicopter was not where it was supposed to be. They were the direct cause of the crash. Whether they could see the commercial aircraft or not, the cause was flying too high and too far from the east bank of the river. Air traffic control didn't appear to call them on any of that and was a contributing factor.

[Bigun]

No one here yet knows where the truth lies on this but at age 76 I have learned some hard lessons about taking ANYTHING the government tells you these days at face value.

[Timber Rattler]

@Timber Rattler  Bless your heart! LOL!  There's so much I wish I could say to you.  However, at my age...with my blood pressure, and out of total respect for @mystery-ak and @Cyber Liberty and the rest of members I consider 'family'... will take the high road and try to utilize my scroll wheel.

PS:  It hasn't gone unnoticed just how certain NT members have once again slithered under their rocks since January 20th.[/size]

PS:  BTW... @Right_in_Virginia should be on TBR's Mount Rushmore and inducted in our Hall of Fame.

 

[mystery-ak]

It Almost Happened the Night Before—Flight Had to Abort Landing at Reagan When Helicopter Got Too Close
By Bob Hoge | 8:44 PM on January 30, 2025

    A passenger flight had to abort landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC the day before American Airlines Flight 5342 collided in midair with a helicopter.

    Republic Airways Flight 4514 was forced to back out of touching down and had to make a second approach after a helicopter appeared near its flight path.

    That's according to an audio recording from air traffic control captured on Tuesday and heard by The Washington Post.

more
https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2025/01/30/it-almost-happened-the-night-beforeflight-had-to-abort-landing-at-reagan-when-helicopter-got-too-close-n2185023

[mystery-ak]

More than 40 bodies recovered from Potomac River, official says

More than 40 bodies have now been recovered from the Potomac River following this week’s midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press.

Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others, a group of elite young figure skaters, their parents and coaches, and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.

A top Army aviation official said the crew of the helicopter, a Black Hawk, was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.

“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, told the AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Posted by Greg Norman

[mystery-ak]

Where the NTSB investigation is heading this morning