Horrific Crash in DC last night! Airliner and helicopter!

[planosteve]

My TV went out last night and I'm following online. Doesn't appear to be any survivors!
The airliner was flying from Wichita, KS.

[Sangersteve]

The video that is currently released looks bad, the angles and being at night make it appear that the helicopter was on a direct path with the plane.

So far no reports of survivors.

[GRANDPA]

The conspiracy morons, keyboard experts and TikTok cuckoos were out in full force literally within minutes on Threads & other social media.

[BigTex]

The tin foil hats came out pretty quickly, as did the finger pointing at Trump to score some political points.

Sometimes shit just happens.

[planosteve]

The tin foil hats came out pretty quickly, as did the finger pointing at Trump to score some political points.

Sometimes shit just happens.

And sometimes it happens for a reason. But regardless, it was an Army helicopter and the Commander in Chief is responsible.

[GFB]

The tin foil hats came out pretty quickly, as did the finger pointing at Trump to score some political points.

Sometimes shit just happens.

And sometimes it happens for a reason. But regardless, it was an Army helicopter and the Commander in Chief is responsible.

That was really dumb

[BigTex]

Excerpts from current FAA job application

FAA1.jpg (152.49 KiB) Viewed 1977 times

FAA2.jpg (234.84 KiB) Viewed 1977 times

[planosteve]

Trump blames disabled workers for tragic crash in profane new rant.
Donald Trump blamed mentally and physically disabled workers for a deadly collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter.

The president blamed his two predecessors Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and specifically policies aimed at recruiting and hiring people with disabilities, although the Federal Aviation Administration conducted similar initiatives during Trump's first term and even launched in 2019 to enroll up to 20 people with disabilities in training for careers in air traffic operations.

"By the way, and my administration will set the highest possible bar for aviation safety," Trump added. "We have to have our smartest people. It doesn't matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. It matters – intellect, talent, the word talent, you have to be talented, naturally talented geniuses. You can't have regular people doing that job, they won't be able to do it."

Trump appeared to reference a misleading Fox News article that blamed a January 2024 Alaska Airlines incident where a Boeing 737 Max 9 lost a plug door mid-flight on FAA emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion standards pushed by then-transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, although those policies predated his tenure and no evidence was shown linking them to the incident.

"I do want to point out that various articles that appeared prior to my entering office, and here's one the FAA's diversity push includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities," Trump said. "That is amazing, and then it says, FAA says people with severe disabilities are most underrepresented segment of the workforce, and they want them in and they want them. They can be air traffic controllers, I don't think so. This was in Jan. 14, [2024], so that was a week before I entered office. They put a big push to put diversity into the FAA's program. Then another article, the Federal Aviation Administration. This was before I got to office recently, second term. The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency's website. Can you imagine?"

He then uttered profanity to slur Buttigieg, who served as Biden's secretary of transportation until last week.

"The initiative is part of the FAA's diversity and inclusion hiring plan, which says diversity is integral to achieving FAA's mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel – I don't think so, I don't think so," Trump said. "I think it's just the opposite. the FAA website shows that the agency's guidance on diversity hiring were last updated on March 23 of [2022]. They wanted to make it even more so, and then I came in and I assumed maybe this is the reason the FAA, which is overseen by secretary Pete Buttigieg, a real winner. That's the guy's a real winner. Do you know how badly everything's run since he's run? The Department of Transportation? He's a disaster. He was a disaster as a mayor, he ran his city into the ground, and he's a disaster now. He's just got a good line of b------. The Department of Transportation, his government agency charged with regulating civil aviation while he runs it, 45,000 people, and he's run it right into the ground with his diversity, so I had to say that it's terrible."

https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-air-collision/

[GRANDPA]

The most probable cause that I would bet cash money on, is not DEI hires, Donald Trump, deliberate collision or any of the wacky things some Loonies come up with, but that some mortal human being f**ked up, plain & simple. That's it. No great mystery, just a f**k up that, unfortunately, cost lives. Who f**ked up? That's still to be determined.

[planosteve]

I was an air force officer, but not a pilot. I think having civilians and military using the same runway of an airport may not be a good idea.

[planosteve]

Donald Trump Blames Obama, Biden, DEI for DC Plane Crash!

The plane, American Airlines Flight 5342, with 60 passengers and four crew on board, had a midair collision with a Black Hawk Army helicopter on Wednesday, marking the first major aviation disaster in the United States involving a commercial aircraft since 2009.

DEI has been a hot topic of the Trump administration since the Inauguration on January 20. On his first day as president, Trump issued an executive order to "terminate" the federal government's DEI programs. The initiatives are meant to promote fair treatment and full participation of all individuals, particularly those from historically underrepresented or marginalized groups. Trump's executive order to end the DEI programs has left many agencies in the lurch, figuring out how to interpret the broad orders.

The president pointing to DEI for the helicopter issues follows suit with how DEI initiatives, contracts and websites have been ordered to be removed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also announced that more executive orders are on their way, including measures to remove DEI initiatives within the Pentagon.

Donald trump plane crash press conference What To Know
It was Trump's first press conference after the plane crash near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening. The flight had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and was approaching landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with the helicopter. The helicopter was on a training flight with a crew of three based out of Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

All 64 people were feared dead in what was likely to be the worst U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century, officials said Thursday.

The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. ET. on Wednesday, and the number of casualties is unclear as the search-and-rescue operation continues. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a "CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport."

Donald Trump Questions Helicopter Pilot After DC Plane Crash
While the investigation has not concluded, Trump said at the press conference that he has some "very strong opinions" on why the crash occurred. He blamed the incident on a lack of competency of the people flying and helicopter controllers.

"I can't imagine that people with 20/20 vision can't see what's happening out there," Trump said.

The American Airlines pilot "was doing everything right," Trump said, and "for some reason, you have a helicopter at the same height and going at an angle. It was unbelievably bad."

"It just kept going. It made a slight turn, but it was too late. It shouldn't have been at the same height because if you weren't at the same height, you could've gone under it or over it," he said.

Trump said that his standards are the "complete opposite" of what the Biden administration had in place. After calling the plane crash a "tragedy of terrible proportions," Trump also appointed a new acting FAA administrator—Chris Rocheleau, a top executive for an aviation business association.

Just days before the plane and helicopter crash, Trump fired the heads of the TSA and eliminated the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, saying it was done as a part of a "commitment to eliminating the misuse of resources and ensuring that DHS activities prioritize our national security."

"As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly," Trump said. "Really, we are in mourning. This has really shaken a lot of people."

People Are Against Trump's Assumptions
Senator Gary Peters told MSNBC's Morning Joe that Trump's remarks were "irresponsible."

"Quite frankly, I think it's absolutely irresponsible to be putting out theories of what may have happened," Peters said. "Let's get to the facts, and the facts will come out fairly quickly. We'll have to have a full investigation, which will take some time, but we've got to let that process."

The Michigan Democrat added that the National Transportation Safety Board is "a highly professional group of individuals."

"We've got to stick to the facts and not allow these conspiracy theories and other things to stoke fear or uncertainty out there," Peters said.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who served in the Biden administration, took to X, formerly Twitter, following Trump's press conference to call the president's theories "despicable."

"As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch," Buttigieg posted. "President Trump now oversees the military and the FAA. One of his first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe. Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again."

Democracy Watch Canada posted on X, "Trump goes on to blame Pete Buttigieg, he's making up stories about DEI and 'too white' initiatives. He's now confirming the helicopter and plane were "at the same height." Pray for the air traffic controller if they are black or brown or happen to use a wheelchair. Insanity."

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, condemned Trump in a statement as well.

"Listen, it's one thing for internet pundits to spew off conspiracies, it's another for the President of the United States to throw out idle speculation as bodies are still being recovered and families are still being notified. It just turns your stomach," Schumer said. "In the meantime, we are keeping the families and loved ones of the victims in our prayers. And we are keeping our brave first responders in our prayers as well."

Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, joined GBH News' Boston Public Radio Thursday and was on-air when Trump suggested DEI could have been to blame for the plane and helicopter crash. When asked for her response, she called it "shameful, deplorable, and disgusting, but nothing new. ...They blame DEI for everything."

"At a time of tragedy when [Trump] should be a salve and a balm, and a source of confidence for these grieving families, and for the country, this is what he does," Pressley said. "More of the same...We're going to have to match his energy."

What People Are Saying
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, in a video statement: "This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines, and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones. We understand and appreciate the people are eager for information, please know that we will continue to share accurate and timely information as soon as we can, but anything we must report, must be accurate."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, at the press conference: "We will have the best and brightest in every position possible."

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, at the press conference: "We will not accept excuses. We will not accept passing the buck."

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-o ... sh-2023610

[BigTex]

The most probable cause that I would bet cash money on, is not DEI hires, Donald Trump, deliberate collision or any of the wacky things some Loonies come up with, but that some mortal human being f**ked up, plain & simple. That's it. No great mystery, just a f**k up that, unfortunately, cost lives. Who f**ked up? That's still to be determined.

Indications are forming that the helicopter pilot made some bad decisions that led to the crash, but he may have been confused by the information he was getting from the tower. Allegedly, the controller was doing the work of two people because they were short handed. The reason they were short handed will be debated ad infinitum. So mistakes on both ends converged over the Potomac.

[GFB]

The most probable cause that I would bet cash money on, is not DEI hires, Donald Trump, deliberate collision or any of the wacky things some Loonies come up with, but that some mortal human being f**ked up, plain & simple. That's it. No great mystery, just a f**k up that, unfortunately, cost lives. Who f**ked up? That's still to be determined.

Indications are forming that the helicopter pilot made some bad decisions that led to the crash, but he may have been confused by the information he was getting from the tower. Allegedly, the controller was doing the work of two people because they were short handed. The reason they were short handed will be debated ad infinitum. So mistakes on both ends converged over the Potomac.

And you can bet DEI played a part in all of that.

When inferior workers are hired to fill quotas, we get dog doo doo.

[BigTex]

Hey GfB:

Are the fire victims in LA upset that they have been bumped off the front page?

[GFB]

Hey GfB:

Are the fire victims in LA upset that they have been bumped off the front page?

I don’t personally know anyone who lost their home, or even anyone that had fire damage.

I imagine they’re all struggling to find somewhere to rent temporarily.

[planosteve]

I think that a civilian airport sharing a runway with the military is a very bad idea. And the proof is just look at what happened.

[Mark]

I read on Twitter this morning (I believe it was a post by Charlie Kirk) that the helicopter pilot was a woman with 500 hours of flight time...

Is 500 hours considered to be adequate experience to be flying that mission? I don't know the answer.

[Mark]

I've also been reading that the helicopter altitude was nearly double the 200 foot limit.

[GRANDPA]

I read on Twitter this morning (I believe it was a post by Charlie Kirk) that the helicopter pilot was a woman with 500 hours of flight time... Is 500 hours considered to be adequate experience to be flying that mission? I don't know the answer.

Here is the helicopter crew. None of these three appear to be a woman.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... h.html?amp

[Mark]

That attachment says it's a New York crew from a 2021 crash.