re: .

quote:

---

A shame all around. Damn near 25 years since last U.S airline passenger crash. RIp to all victims.

---

Just over 15 years, still an extremely impressive run.

Last incident with multiple fatalities on U.S. soil was the Colgan Air crash in Buffalo in 2009.

Colgan Air Flight 3407

That San Francisco plane crash feels like it was recent. Hard to believe it’s been 12 years.

While every life matters, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 had 3 fatalities. Southwest and PenAir also had a single fatality each during that span. Much different than a mass casualty event like this.

Multiple means more than one.

And Kosmo not sure what ABC was on. It was pretty clear when there were no survivors after an hour in those conditions there weren’t any. They might be tight lipped about some things but that’s news they would have released to keep morale up.

quote:

---

Can any pilots weigh in?

---

No need.

Anyone who truly thinks this was intentional is a moron

Latest updates
(CBS News)
* Search efforts continue in the Potomac River after a plane with 60 passengers and 4 crew on board collided in midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
* At least 18 bodies had been recovered by 11:30 p.m. ET, a police official at the scene told CBS News.
* The plane, American Eagle flight 5342, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and was approaching for landing when the collision occurred.
* "The water is dark, 'murky' about 8 feet deep, and contains pieces of ice. It's just dangerous and hard to work in. And because there's not a lot of lights, you're out there searching every square inch of space."
* Reagan National Airport will remain closed until at least 11 a.m
* Russian figure skaters and coaches Shishkova and Naumov were on board,
(NBC News)
* U.S. Figure Skating: ‘Several members of our skating community’ on crashed plane
(ABC News)
* DC-area hospitals report 'no patients' from crash
(Fox News)
* We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight
* Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly, Sr., said there are currently about 300 responders working at the scene.
(CNN)
* Air traffic controller audio obtained by CNN from LiveATC.net captured air traffic control operators directing the helicopter to pass behind the passenger plane. An air traffic controller said, “PAT 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?” The controller then said, “PAT 2-5 pass behind the CRJ.”

Additional air traffic control audio shortly before the collision captures the helicopter pilot saying, “PAT 2-5 has aircraft in sight, request visual separation.” Less than 13 seconds later, the audio then captured audible gasps, including a loud “oooh” in the background apparently from the tower, at the moment of the crash.

Why would there be an army training flight in the approaches to Reagan?

quote:

---

Do military aircraft use TCAS?

---

Learning a lot this morning...

TCAS is off below 1,000 feet. Only a simple traffic alert sound would be issued but no panic instruction to climb, descend or turn

Is it true the SOP for mil craft in the area are supposed to be 200 ft or lower?

quote:

---

Maybe I am over simplifying this , but why would any object ever be allowed to fly into the theoretical landing path at an airport anytime. Obviously emergency situations call for one offs, but seems to me that there is a three dimensional zone in which all planes approach and land. Why would you ever allow any object to encroach upon that zone at anytime ?

---

Not sure if you know how to read a VFR map but the southern area of DC Metro is a hellscape of restricted airspace. They typically will give clearance up to X00 feet depending on how close they are to the airport. Sounds like the Helo was cleared for 200 feet with closed airspace at 400 feet. If that's the case, the Helo was flying too high.