DC plane crash | Expert analysis on the moments leading up to the collision

[@tinawhite8835]

There is a channel, Captain Steeve, who played the air traffic control audio. The helicopter pilot called for visual separation, meaning he was taking responsibility for visually remaining separated from the plane. He, unfortunately, appeared to have visual contact with the plane in line behind the one he collided with. When asked multiple times if he had visual contact with the plane, he replied affirmative. It appears he flew directly into the approaching plane and never saw it, watching instead, the plane behind the one would ultimately strike. Much more informative than what the news casts are saying.

[@normdavis3450]

I believe you're right. This link shows that communication sequence: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGqTiappqbZ2Zqs

[@Mr._Boom513]

@@tinawhite8835 VASAviation's channel has the ATC audio overlayed on the FlightTracker data. From that video, it looks pretty obvious that the helo pilot had a visual on the plane behind the one it collided with, as you mentioned.

[@teen5089]

Analyzing the Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac: A Detailed Examination of ATC Communications Channel is - captain Steeeve

[@tedflaig7546]

Get it straight… the Helicopter ran into the airplane…..

[@Mr._Boom513]

Yep.

[@kevinschmidt2210]

... because the plane flew through the helicopter path. Got it straight...

[@SlimJim-Bob]

@@kevinschmidt2210. You are incorrect. The helo flew through the planes path. Get it right

[@Mr._Boom513]

@@kevinschmidt2210 the ATC audio is available for everyone. The plane had already been cleared to land and was on short final. The helicopter was flying visual separation and was asked multiple times if he had the aircraft that was on final in sight which he said he did. It's obvious on FlightTracker that he actually had a visual on a different plane that was behind the one landing. Helo pilot was instructed by ATC to pass behind the landing aircraft. Because the helicopter pilot had a visual on the wrong aircraft, he never saw the plane that was landing that he collided with. The plane landing never saw the helicopter, because it shouldn't have been there.

[@kevinschmidt2210]

@ There is a helicopter path, which is why that route is dangerous. The plane flew through that path.

[@miked8022]

I've flown that approach 100's of times, It's no joke. The danger is the turn to final, it's a tight turn that demands you full concentration. At night on that approach there are a lot of lights you're seeing as a pilot, highway, city, bridge and of course the runway. It would be easy to lose sight of an aircraft. This approach should NEVER be allowed at night.

[@michellemooresings]

I can look it up but I wanted to ask you how many crashes have occurred because of this? My understanding is that the helicopter pilots are going by visual.

[@LittlewoodSD]

@@michellemooresings yes ma’am. Would you like to meet me for coffee and talk about it?

[@ChrisMoran]

Just to fact check one point: the military began flying helicopters in 1943. Regan National Airport opened in 1941. So it did not open long before "Helicopters were invented"

[@michellemooresings]

Also, the helicopter pilot saw a different plane. The method they've used all these years have worked well. As far as I know there haven't been many crashes.

[@marta9854]

Maybe helicopters SHOULDN’T operate on that route?

[@stevec4185]

Tragic but the helicopter crashed straight into the side of the plane so it seems the helicopter was more at fault

[@staset1]

I think he was looking at the wrong plane. There was another plane taking off close by

[@LCattarin]

All Boats and all aircraft have red lights on left side and a green light on the right side. So pilots ALWAYS monitor the "green half" of their (air) ship for approaching right of way craft and must yield to vehicles coming from their green side. Maybe helicopter had it's lights off and jet missed seeing it?

[@kenhuffman9306]

As busy as that airport is, maybe they should not allow helicopters to fly there at night. Or the airport should not use the short runway again.

[@BugsyBologna]

Everyone becomes an expert on plane crashes all of a sudden.

[@NickMoran-m1y]

For real lol

[@diegoharo7943]

I have over 400 hrs as a helicopter and I can confirm it was the helicopters fault

[@MK-ok6yp]

@@diegoharo7943I was the plane and I can confirm if was the helicopters fault

[@michellemooresings]

@@BugsyBologna or they go by actual experts in the field.

[@tripodcatz5532]

This is actually a very good interview. The helicopter VFR transition route the Blackhawk was following should have NEVER been authorized when runway 33 is in use, let alone authorized at night. It's absolutely insane that an airliner full of people landing at night would be required to 'see and avoid' conflicting traffic on short final to land. Pilots should be able to have all of their attention to landing the aircraft at this stage of flight, not worrying about a helicopter flying into the approach path at the same time. Whatever ultimately is determined in the future, the helicopter route the Blackhawk was following at the time of the collision will be decertified and prohibited; this route should've never been allowed in the first place and it was only a matter of time before an accident like this happened.

[@JoshD-uh1ok]

You dont even know if it was the helicopter crews fault. Try doing some research before running your mouth

[@Mickey-hz3cn]

​@@JoshD-uh1okwe all seen it run into the plane spanky😂

[@tripodcatz5532]

@@JoshD-uh1ok You're right - thanks for calling me out. The helo crew did absolutely nothing wrong except fly into a f*cking airliner on short final after telling ATC that they had the airliner in sight and were maintaining visual separation.

[@michellemooresings]

@@tripodcatz5532 It was the helicopter who was using visual. And there is a very intelligent reason for that..

[@michellemooresings]

@@tripodcatz5532 The last accident in the Potomac was 48 years ago

[@Mr._Boom513]

This is why MSM sucks. The full ATC audio overlayed on FlightTracker is available on VASAviation's channel. The helicopter was flying visual separation and had the wrong aircraft in sight. The helicopter never saw the aircraft it collided with. The passenger plane was already cleared to land and never saw the helicopter because it shouldn't have been there. ATC told the helo to pass behind the plane that was landing, but because the helo pilot had a visual on the wrong airplane he crashed into it. It was the helicopter's fault. Sad and tragic.

[@drillsergeant623]

Helicopter collided with the plane. Get right.

[@tmitchellza]

This is a really tragic event, and my heart goes out to the victims and relatives concerned. As a novice, looking at the angle of the runway and the flight path of helicopters, it seems to me that this was an accident waiting to happen.

[@lopoa126]

Thank Trump for firing FAA staff that could have prevented this.

[@victorialove9104]

Apparently the helicopter pilot was not following the instructions from the FAA traffic controller. So Trump has nothing to do with it.

[@kadeemallory320]

@@lopoa126Tower asked the helicopter pilot if he had the airplane in his hives and he said yes… then he hit the airplane! Yep sounds like trumps fault and even sounds like FAA’s fault! NOPE! 100% helicopter pilots fault and no one can dispute that fact at all!

[@tmitchellza]

@@lopoa126 I quite agree. This seems to be a case where there is a rather precarious situation, which is handled competently by ATC's under normal circumstances. But it is a weak link in the safety chain. Where staff are then fired, or placed under unusual stress, things go wrong.

[@TimeToGetFunkyy]

@@lopoa126democrats will always find ways to blame republicans… oh haiti is a collapsing country…TRUMPS FAULT!!! 😂

[@IrriGRAYHowToChannel]

wow, so the expert neglected to look at the cleared ceiling for helo traffic down that route. It is max 200'. The collision occured at ~ 350' asl. If the helo had stayed below the ceiling there would not have been a collsision.

[@bullwinkle60]

Sounds like a situation that slowly evolved, without the authorities realizing that the time to fix it had arrived.

[@cowboy7170]

1:51 They LEFT OUT the part that shows the PAT25 (heli) making a "right turn" AFTER the plane makes a left turn into the glide path of the runway 33. If the heli stayed on course along the Potomac River, there would have been no collision. It appears that the heli followed the plane and even accelerated towards the plane, which was decelerating. On highways, that's how you end up with a fender bender.

[@TimeToGetFunkyy]

it was an accident, theres no motive, no conspiracy, nothing but a preventable FREAK ACCIDENT. please find something to do because these comments are truly baffling

[@michellemooresings]

@@TimeToGetFunkyy Yes, thank you for saying that. It's a tragic accident, but there is no weird ulterior motive behind it.

[@Maya_Pinion]

Oh,who can we blame this tragedy on----? SHAME.

[@lopoa126]

Trump fired a bunch of FAA staff recently...

[@silkscrim]

How about the military not run training flights across the regular flight paths of commercial aircraft?? HOW ABOUT THAT???

[@johnschneider4160]

"Expert"...another "expert" analyst...🙄

[@marktwain580]

Still, ATC could’ve requested confirmation from the Helo

[@teen5089]

It was helo fault check out this break down by a training pilot with the video and audio, type this in Analyzing the Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac: A Detailed Examination of ATC Communications Channel is - captain Steeeve

[@thescrolls9190]

Why is the military so silent?

[@kadeemallory320]

Weird, huh?! It’s their helicopter pilots fault 100% and they haven’t owned up to it! I love our military but they need to own up to their mistakes when they make them!

[@teen5089]

It was there fault check out this break down by a training pilot with the video and audio, type this in Analyzing the Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac: A Detailed Examination of ATC Communications Channel is - captain Steeeve

[@michellemooresings]

@@thescrolls9190 They're probably pretty horrified and grieving right now.

[@Lostraven2420]

Any and all Military vehicles should be banned near or in Civilian airports.

[@JoshD-uh1ok]

I love how these “experts” don’t even wait until all of the evidence is gathered. All they are doing is projecting their opinions and acting like it is fact. You’re nothing but an empty talking head.

[@ll7868]

Trump: "This wouldn't have happened if it was a White Hawk helicopter."

[@charlespiper9291]

Was the air traffic controller a DEI hire?

[@Pa-we1lw]

Sounds like the ATC was at fault.

[@BigKandRtv]

Did anyone see our new Secretary of Transportation hold a press conference? Said both aircraft were "on normal flight patterns". So everything is fine, nothing to see here.

[@pmurt_kcuf]

except the he forgot to mention the Blackhawk disregarding ATC instructions

[@markchandler7089]

I thought he said this was unacceptable! Really?

[@BigKandRtv]

@@markchandler7089 Yep. The expert on this video isn’t the Sec of Trans. Go watch that guy’s press conference.

[@gozdetanyeri281]

Please fact check. So many errors in your reporting.

[@uoohoo99]

Yeah, just what it looks like. The helicopter hit the airplane.

[@Jjjgfygojhfvb]

A foreshadowing of Trump's America.

[@mikemillwood1564]

gee ya think it could be dangerous. DUH This could have been prevented!

[@huemann3416]

Way to go maga voters. Not even a week after trump forces FAA safety advisors to resign…this happens. FAFO

[@Rebecca-bq4ez]

TDS has still got you in its grips.

[@DrooledOn]

Really sad that you are making a plane crash political. The FFA board wouldn’t have prevented this tragedy. The video literally says that they knew each other were there, and the air traffic controller advised them of what to do.

[@hscha2085]

@@DrooledOn Donald Trump literally fired 400+ employees from the FAA and bought out federal employees which includes air traffic controllers. This is the first accident in 16 years of course it’s the Trump administration’s fault. It’s not about politics. It’s about holding those accountable that had a part in this.

[@LCattarin]

I read the single Air Traffic Controller was doing the job of 2 Controllers. Read they are always short staffed there. Must be a sh_thole, high stress, place to work and people don't want to work there.

[@kriskillian-ie4uk]

@@DrooledOnwell the president made it political, didn’t he?

[@ActivateMission2ThisTimeline]

Air traffic control, where were they?

[@lopoa126]

Trump fired a bunch of FAA staff.

[@teen5089]

⁠ It was helo fault check out this break down by a training pilot with the video and audio, type this in Analyzing the Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac: A Detailed Examination of ATC Communications Channel is - captain Steeeve

[@fabriziomencarelli204]

PIC only 500 hours Female unqualified

[@mojoriden]

Trump administration in action

[@jragnes]

Shut up

[@Babyboffa2018]

Don't be bloody ridiculous!

[@DrooledOn]

So when a boat crashed into a bridge last year that was Biden’s fault? Be a serious person!

[@massivepassive]

It is a bit symbolic

[@lopoa126]

@@Babyboffa2018 Trump literally just fired a bunch of FAA staff that could have prevented this.

[@SomoIya-s4h]

😭😭😭😭😭

[@NickMoran-m1y]

All the experts are in the chat everybody

[@freejosephmusic]

Lies lies lies

[@Christlife-x1x]

DEI hire

[@HalfChubFullTime]

Evidence?

[@teen5089]

It was helo fault check out this break down by a training pilot with the video and audio, type this in Analyzing the Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac: A Detailed Examination of ATC Communications Channel is - captain Steeeve

[@teen5089]

@@HalfChubFullTime It was helo fault check out this break down by a training pilot with the video and audio, type this in Analyzing the Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac: A Detailed Examination of ATC Communications Channel is - captain Steeeve

[@CynthiaYoung-t1w]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJasZqWjr7B8r7M

[@earlymorningtwilight9119]

DEI or terrorism

[@lopoa126]

This is the Trump admin on display. Stable genius fired a bunch of FAA staff.

[@DaleSlaght]

dei hires in atc"s?

[@thescrolls9190]

No but white pilots in the helio.

[@lopoa126]

Racists are so cringe. Maybe ask about how Trump fired a bunch of FAA staff recently.

[@R-BURQUENO]

Parroting Trump's BS

[@DaleSlaght]

@R-BURQUENO grow up and pull your head out

[@R-BURQUENO]

@@DaleSlaght Real original. Did I tug on a heart string or two? ...... Pull my head out of what exactly? Lol Rather have my head up my own, then swing on another man's pair, lol.

[@TheRocker27]

Welcome to trumps America. Stumpy from Chicago cribs b der. U b safes stump. MAKE AMERICA TRUMPLESS AGAIN FRANKLIN. 🪵🤥🤘🃏🎸🥃🍺🤤🩸🚔🪦🇺🇲

[@R-BURQUENO]

​@@caycug1You all are the ones with TDS.... OBSESSED. WEIRD.

[@CynthiaYoung-t1w]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJasZqWjr7B8r7M

[@CynthiaYoung-t1w]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJasZqWjr7B8r7M

[@CynthiaYoung-t1w]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJasZqWjr7B8r7M