Military chopper crashes into airliner....terrorism or crazy accident?

[Gator Fever]

Military Helicopter Collides with Airliner at Regan National -- No Survivors, Says Fire Chief

An airplane has reportedly crashed at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, DC, grounding all takeoffs and landings.

www.breitbart.com

Crazy stuff here as it looked like the chopper could have avoided this. Curious if the helicopter pilot had something going on and purposely did this. Sounds like most US figure skaters were on the plane that got hit.

 

[IrishPokerDog]

Crazy stuff - training mission for soldiers on copter

 

[Gator Fever]

Crazy stuff - training mission for soldiers on copter

If true that might explain the pilot not having their full attention where it should be. It's after the fact but having a training mission there sounds like a really bad idea.

I know stuff happens pretty quick but that video makes you think the pilot wasn't paying attention like they should or something else. Not sure what the controllers relayed to them right before this happened.

 

[gatordad3]

On a clear night like last night visual flying rules along with ATC chirping into each headset too. There's no way at least one pilot did not have eyes on the other.

 

[Gator Fever]

On a clear night like last night visual flying rules along with ATC chirping into each headset too. There's no way at least one pilot did not have eyes on the other.

I guess I could see that happening if the helicopter pilot was really not paying attention with the paths coming together but with the controllers you think having to have said something to the pilot it would make you think it could possibly be intentional. If it was a training mission I guess the pilot could have zoned out thinking about something else.

 

[Gator Fever]

Some claims that ATC seconds before the crash ask the helicopter pilot if he sees the plane.

 

[IrishPokerDog]

View embedded media

If true that might explain the pilot not having their full attention where it should be. It's after the fact but having a training mission there sounds like a really bad idea.

I know stuff happens pretty quick but that video makes you think the pilot wasn't paying attention like they should or something else. Not sure what the controllers relayed to them right before this happened.

They Blackhawk dudes were wearing night vision goggles…. Makes you wonder if there wasn’t a malfunction in the set used by the copter pilot

 

[Gator Fever]

They Blackhawk dudes were wearing night vision goggles…. Makes you wonder if there wasn’t a malfunction in the set used by the copter pilot

One guys interpretation on how he thinks it may have happened due to helicopter perspective and possibly ATC not giving better instructions.

 

[nail1988]

Military Helicopter Collides with Airliner at Regan National -- No Survivors, Says Fire Chief

An airplane has reportedly crashed at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, DC, grounding all takeoffs and landings.

www.breitbart.com

Crazy stuff here as it looked like the chopper could have avoided this. Curious if the helicopter pilot had something going on and purposely did this. Sounds like most US figure skaters were on the plane that got hit.

Who cleared them to takeoff with approaching traffic? DEI hire?

 

[Gator Fever]

Who cleared them to takeoff with approaching traffic? DEI hire?

That is probably allowed at airports like that within timeframes I would think. I am no pilot and don't know the rules though. I want to see the facts and what the helicopter was doing training there though. The guy in that post on X sounds like he may be on the right track with how it happened. No matter who made the biggest screw up out of that pilot and ATC not instructing him to make a strong turn (if they didnt) I just don't understand why you would have them doing training (if they were) at a busy airport like that.

 

[gatordad3]

CNN trying to blame Trump without actually saying she does.

 

[Illegal-shift]

With all the activity around busy airports its surprising to me that stuff like this doesn't happen more often.

 

[GatorGray]

They Blackhawk dudes were wearing night vision goggles…. Makes you wonder if there wasn’t a malfunction in the set used by the copter pilot

So night vision goggles are great, but they limit peripheral vision...something you really need in looking for other aircraft.

 

[nail1988]

With all the activity around busy airports its surprising to me that stuff like this doesn't happen more often.

 

[Gator Fever]

So night vision goggles are great, but they limit peripheral vision...something you really need in looking for other aircraft.

An annual night vision training thing apparently. Still don't understand letting a helicopter in the direct area of flights that are coming in besides doing night vision training there which seems unwise. Heck at our smaller airport the Sheriff's helicopter launching pad is right beside the airport and they take off when it's clear and still in a direction to avoid the normal flight paths of landing planes.

 

[GatorGray]

An annual night vision training thing apparently. Still don't understand letting a helicopter in the direct area of flights that are coming in besides doing night vision training there which seems unwise. Heck at our smaller airport the Sheriff's helicopter launching pad is right beside the airport and they take off when it's clear and still in a direction to avoid the normal flight paths of landing planes.

What you describe is typical (I think)...they do the same at ours, but remember this is REALLY busy airspace. Also, 33 is not the main runway. The larger jets land on 1/19, so they may have been keeping them away from that one (also like most airports they try to keep the traffic over less populated area - in this case the water).

 

[GatorGray]

An annual night vision training thing apparently.

In that airspace, I wonder if they had a safety pilot not wearing the goggles for the express purpose of visual assistance.

 

[GatorGray]

With all the activity around busy airports its surprising to me that stuff like this doesn't happen more often.

Because the ATC people are awesome. They have saved my ass on several occasions.

 

[NavigatorII]

Because the ATC people are awesome. They have saved my ass on several occasions.

Do you fly commercial airlines or privately? I never knew you were a pilot, learn something new erry day. Flying a plane is something that's never or going to be on my bingo card.

 

[GatorGray]

Do you fly commercial airlines or privately? I never knew you were a pilot, learn something new erry day. Flying a plane is something that's never or going to be on my bingo card.

I fly GA.

 

[nail1988]

 

[nail1988]

@gatordad3

😭😭😭

 

[NavigatorII]

I fly GA.

Hobby flying prop planes? Do you own yours or rent them?

 

[GatorGray]

Hobby flying prop planes? Do you own yours or rent them?

I own (with a partner) a single engine plane. I also occasionally rent a larger plane.

 

[NavigatorII]

I own (with a partner) a single engine plane. I also occasionally rent a larger plane.

That's pretty cool. Although it's definitely not for me, what places do you go for trips? Do you vacation that way or just make short trips? I see planes landing quite often off Atlantic Blvd. Crazy how they swoop in just barely over the powerlines.

 

[BCSpell]

That is probably allowed at airports like that within timeframes I would think. I am no pilot and don't know the rules though. I want to see the facts and what the helicopter was doing training there though. The guy in that post on X sounds like he may be on the right track with how it happened. No matter who made the biggest screw up out of that pilot and ATC not instructing him to make a strong turn (if they didnt) I just don't understand why you would have them doing training (if they were) at a busy airport like that.

This area gets a lot of air traffic. There have been quite a few close calls in the past.

 

[goldmom]

So night vision goggles are great, but they limit peripheral vision...something you really need in looking for other aircraft.

If you’re going nighttime training with vision goggles it just seems like you’d do it in a place with less air traffic around until it’s at a much more advanced step in the training. Maybe I’m being too cautious?

 

[GatorGray]

That's pretty cool. Although it's definitely not for me, what places do you go for trips? Do you vacation that way or just make short trips? I see planes landing quite often off Atlantic Blvd. Crazy how they swoop in just barely over the powerlines.

Can't pack a lot of weight in it, so have to travel light, so I use it for long weekend-type stuff. That and the $100 hamburger as we call it (fly somewhere and have lunch). Stay mostly in the southeast. Was just looking at the Bonaroo Music Festival and thinking of going up there this summer for that.
I keep my plane at Craig so fly in there all of the time.

 

[goldmom]

That's pretty cool. Although it's definitely not for me, what places do you go for trips? Do you vacation that way or just make short trips? I see planes landing quite often off Atlantic Blvd. Crazy how they swoop in just barely over the powerlines.

Yeah but if you grew up on our side of town you know that airport’s been there for maybe 70 years when there was NOTHING else around it. It’s now boxed in and fully surrounded by urban infill.

 

[GatorGray]

If you’re going nighttime training with vision goggles it just seems like you’d do it in a place with less air traffic around until it’s at a much more advanced step in the training. Maybe I’m being too cautious?

Training doesn't necessarily mean "beginner" or initial learning. It might be what they call proficiency training - have to do some on a scheduled basis to stay proficient.

 

[LordofallSocks]

So night vision goggles are great, but they limit peripheral vision...something you really need in looking for other aircraft.

My vehicles sits 10 feet off the deck and I hand NVGsto the guy behind me, I need my depth perception, tyvm

 

[GatorGray]

My vehicles sits 10 feet off the deck and I hand NVGsto the guy behind me, I need my depth perception, tyvm

Since I posted what you replied to, I read that the helo pilot said that they 'had the plane in sight' - then ran into it. I wonder if depth perception was an issue.

 

[Illegal-shift]

Since I posted what you replied to, I read that the helo pilot said that they 'had the plane in sight' - then ran into it. I wonder if depth perception was an issue.

Doesn't sound to promising for the helo pilot when they ultimately determine blame.

 

[Capt Ron 1]

If you’re going nighttime training with vision goggles it just seems like you’d do it in a place with less air traffic around until it’s at a much more advanced step in the training. Maybe I’m being too cautious?

I do not think NVG's were used while in the city. They are very sensitive to light, and it is very bright where the crash was

 

[Capt Ron 1]

Since I posted what you replied to, I read that the helo pilot said that they 'had the plane in sight' - then ran into it. I wonder if depth perception was an issue.

They are trying to figure out if the plane he was talking about was the plane he ran in to. I would say no. However how was the ATC not yelling at him about inevitable collision? I think there were more than one issue for this to have happened. Like a "unperfect storm" of events

 

[GatorGray]

They are trying to figure out if the plane he was talking about was the plane he ran in to. I would say no. However how was the ATC not yelling at him about inevitable collision? I think there were more than one issue for this to have happened. Like a "unperfect storm" of events

There usually is...a.k.a the "error chain". Break one link in that chain and the event doesn't happen.

 

[Gator Fever]

Since I posted what you replied to, I read that the helo pilot said that they 'had the plane in sight' - then ran into it. I wonder if depth perception was an issue.

Some people think he was looking at another plane and wasn't focused on the one he hit.

 

[NavigatorII]

Yeah but if you grew up on our side of town you know that airport’s been there for maybe 70 years when there was NOTHING else around it. It’s now boxed in and fully surrounded by urban infill.

I didn't grow up here. Didn't move here until 1984. The southside of Baymeadows Road was still cow pasture then though. It was so long ago, Seinfeld was doing the comedy clubs on that road.

 

[KearsedGator42]

I own (with a partner) a single engine plane. I also occasionally rent a larger plane.

My Ex-Wife flew without a license
for years. I’m surprised the Military didn’t shoot her out of the sky💥

I didn’t think I was ever gonna get rid of her and then that nice little lady from Kansas threw a bucket of water on her.

 

[NavigatorII]

My Ex-Wife flew without a license
for years. I’m surprised the Military didn’t shoot her out of the sky💥

I didn’t think I was ever gonna get rid of her and then that nice little lady from Kansas threw a bucket of water on her.

I guess you, me, and Gray are members of the Ex-Club.