DC Black Hawk vs Plane crash, Philly Crash. Malicious, or incompotence?

Synopsis of NTSB findings.

 
Somebody's dragging their feet. Trying to avoid accountability?
From my experience in the USAF 20 years ago...the army helicopters never really used anything but the most basic navigation avionics...even when they had them equipped. My reference was them not using the full compliment of DOD GPS and just "winging it"
 
The proof isn’t the video, it’s based on what was contained in The NY Times story from this morning.
The NYT article was paywalled however I found this referencing the article. Instructor informed PIC he believed ATC had instructed them to turn left which would have provided separation. It reads like a suggestion not an instruction or order but regardless it was not heeded

Black Hawk pilot failed to heed flight instructor in moments before plane collision over DC: report

Black Hawk pilot failed to heed flight instructor in moments before plane collision over DC: report

"The Black Hawk was 15 seconds away from crossing paths with the jet. Warrant Officer Eaves then turned his attention to Captain Lobach. He told her he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank," the Times wrote.

"Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet. She did not turn left," the report said.
 
The NYT article was paywalled however I found this referencing the article. Instructor informed PIC he believed ATC had instructed them to turn left which would have provided separation. It reads like a suggestion not an instruction or order but regardless it was not heeded

Black Hawk pilot failed to heed flight instructor in moments before plane collision over DC: report

Black Hawk pilot failed to heed flight instructor in moments before plane collision over DC: report

"The Black Hawk was 15 seconds away from crossing paths with the jet. Warrant Officer Eaves then turned his attention to Captain Lobach. He told her he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank," the Times wrote.

"Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet. She did not turn left," the report said.
Sounds deliberate. Innocent lives lost but at least she didn’t listen to the instructor and did it her way.
 
Maybe, sounds deliberate though.
Well since you want it to be deliberate I guess I guess that’s that!

It’s been established they were higher than they should have been. This article seems to indicate a lack of crew communication also. That’s it or that’s it for me anyway.
 
NY Post 4/27/25


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Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal

🇺🇸DEADLY MISTAKES: BLACK HAWK PILOT IGNORED WARNINGS BEFORE CRASH

On Jan. 29, an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet crashed near Reagan National Airport, killing all 67 people.

The Black Hawk was flying 100 feet too high and Captain Lobach got multiple warnings from her co-pilot to descend to 200 feet and turn left — but she didn’t.

The helicopter’s tracking system was turned off to stay “invisible,” making it harder for the controller to monitor them in real-time.

The air traffic controller, who was working two jobs at once, approved a risky move called “visual separation”, meaning the pilots had to dodge each other without help.

The crash happened just 15 seconds after their last radio call — and experts say 75 feet or less separated the aircraft paths at impact.

Since the crash, the FAA has banned most helicopter flights on that route and limited visual separation near Reagan National.

Source: New York Times
 
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