Why do you think the Helicopter and plane crashed together in DC?

[jimmy2]

I think military on a different channel than ait traffic controllers. What do you think?

[Lliam]

So far, it sounds like the helicopter was at fault. The airliner was on final approach and didn't have the ability to maneuver.
The helicopter told the tower that they had the jet on visual. When a military aircraft says that, they are given full control by the tower.
The jet was lit up like a Christmas tree.
The helicopter was at the wrong altitude. And why was it crossing the landing path of commercial traffic?

The helicopter had the ability to change course or even stop, yet it broadsided the jet. Why didn't it see the airliner?

It is said that the tower was short staffed and one single controller was organizing landings and take offs of numerous jets. Planes were lined up to land in short succession.
Commercial and military aircraft are on different channels, so they can't hear or communicate with each other, and the air traffic controller had to use different frequencies to speak to them.

Given the circumstances, I don't blame the air traffic controller.
Something caused the helicopter to not see the plane. The pilots of the helicopter may have been wearing infrared goggles. But aren't military aircraft full of radars and sensors?

[Lliam]

Thanks for the MHO, Jimmy.

[red324]

This kind of thing happens a lot with small private aircraft. Not so much with a commercial airline. Probably just not paying attention in this case.

[MisterWack]

From what I heard the Black Hawk Helicopter & American Airline Flight were on different channels and wouldn’t hear the other approaching / them coming in close.

Then you have the factor that the Air Controller informed the Helicopter of the Airline coming in for a landing 30 seconds which isn’t enough reaction time to do anything… It appears they didn’t know how close the two aircraft were so it explains why they didn’t realize. The helicopter didn’t respond in time so probably didn’t even receive the transmission. The airline was supposed to land on the long runway away from the helicopter though was advised by the tower to land on the shorter (they weren’t aware of any helicopter nearby the shorter runway, if they were made aware this most definitely wouldn’t had happened).

There are conspiracy theories pointing to ‘DEI’ policies / speculation that President Trump’s firing of 100 FAA Officials caused this tragedy to happen, I don’t personally believe that though I guess my opinion could change once the full report is out. Rest in peace to those troops that tragically died and the 64 civilians on the airlines flight that were killed in the crash.

[RingOfFire]

There were a lot of theories including the different frequencies on their radio's theory.

The helicopter was on a training flight so perhaps a lack of experience had something to do with it.

In any event I think that the entire FAA and air traffic controller system needs an overhaul.

It was reported that they did not have proper staffing in the air traffic control center when the accident happened. So I think President Trump is exactly right to call attention to potential serious problems with their hiring practices and especially the DEI requirements.

It appears that there is a severe shortage of air traffic controllers because they are refusing to hire white people and setting aside those positions for minorities. If that's the case, that entire process needs to be scrapped and replaced with a merit-based system that has absolutely no interest in a person's skin color or sexual orientation which has absolutely nothing to do with their performance as an air traffic controller.

Under the current DEI hiring rules rules people with "severe mental disabilities" and people with with complete body paralysis are given a preference in hiring for an air traffic control position! A preference!

It's complete Insanity!

So I think we need to see if the Democrat's insane woke DEI policies murdered these people. Right now it appears like that may be the root cause this incident.

[Fireguy17]

That is a very busy airport.
The planes fly under controlled rules from the tower, the helicopters fly by VFR rules, not under the control of the tower. So, the helicopters are taking on the responsibility to watch out for other traffic, as well as the restricted airspace.
The copter did acknowledge a plane, but as of yet they do not know which plane.
The plane was on final approach under control of the tower so based on the copter hitting the plane on the left side of the aircraft, the plane would have been above and to the right of the copter.
The plane was under the control of the tower on its final approach.
No matter what the reason it is very sad for all.
Once they have examined every detail, large and small the NTSB will issue its report, and they can take about 30ish days.
Then the facts will be published, and all of us internet experts will know how it actually happened.

[AviatorTom]

When the NTSB completes its full and detailed investigation and issues its report, we'll know the root cause, and recommendations to reduce the probability of it happening again. Until then, it's pure speculation and guesswork, neither of which is very good.

[bolverk]

From the available evidence at the moment the Blackhawk was flying a roughly 375 Ft where it should have been flying at 200 Ft, flying at 375 Ft put the Blackhawk in the flightpath of the incoming Jet, but there is something else strange there the Jet was originally on approach to Runway 01, but was suddenly told to make a hard right turn and line up on Runway 33 which resulted in the Jet/Blackhawk collision. If the Jet had remained its approach to Runway 01 the collision would not have occurred.

[jshm2]

They were in a gay relationship, and couldn't meet outside of work, so decided to meet inside work hours under Washington lights instead...

Joking aside, it's likely the military fucked up with letting control know about the helicopter location. The helicopter pilot had to guess best location to avoid planes... but guessed wrong.

[Mangospacho]

Helicopters are constantly darting back and forth between Bolling and the Pentagon across the runways at DCA. The airspace there is so narrow for aircraft because of the nearby monuments and sensitive government facilities. This CRJ-700 was using a less common approach on a lesser used runway that crosses very close to Bolling. The helicopter just wasn’t able to see the CRJ in time to avoid collision.

[dustybiker2]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/RzQe6W7vcu4

This professional always explains well.

[HungTexan]

Human error, helicopter flying at wrong altitude, and not enough air traffic controllers for the amount of aircraft.

[genericname85]

85% of the plane crashes are human failures. so i'd say it's just that. what human failed I don't know. could be technical maintenance, atc or pilot failure. tbh i don't care. it's all the same anyway.

[Miristheiss]

Air traffic control is supposed to keep this from happening. My guess would be a error there.

[JustinTheGreat]

I don't know, like how do you crash into each other when you had all that sky 🙄🙄🙄

[KrakenAttackin]

The Helo was above and aside the established flight corridor for helicopters.

[douride2]

in my opinion either one or both were flying at the wrong altitude.

[DrPepper12]

F=m x v. I think. Add gravity. The math maths.

[beefcakebradybatson]

N*******, disabled folk, gays, women, immigrants, i. e., any non-cisgender straight white male !!!

[Anonymous]

It was caused by error on the part of the helicopter pilot. She was almost twice as high as she should have been.

[Crazzyyworld]

Absolutely crazyyyy. Why they are so careless?

[Smashingdoozy]

Human error (hopefully) Mistakes happen.

[strateguy632]

No because they were near the tower

[msg321]

They wanted to give a message to Trump.

[Jmmmfi4]

Who knows... pilot error

[Dargil]

Incompetence.

[Ariesman81]

Human error