Tragic Accident in DC-First Major Plane Crash in US since 2009
So January has been some month. Bombings, Plane Crashes, Fires , DeepSeek ,Trump Show, etc . Year of the Dragon did not end peacefully and Year of the Snake not looking to be any better.
A Continuity of Government Training Exercise on a Clear , Cold and Windy Night gone wrong. 67 dead. American Airlines Flight 5342 operated by PSA Airlines flying a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet from Kansas is in the final descent toward Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashes into UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter at 400 ft around 9 pm on January 29, 2025. Game Over
The controller on duty the night of the accident was doing a job usually handled by two people. This was not normal. Another coincidence.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/us/plane-crash-dc-helicopter-reagan-airport.html
The crash occurs over the Defense Intelligence Agency and Naval Research Labs
Trump describes the accident
“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions”
Its certainly sad but I remember these used to happen fairly often. First one in 16 years. Imagine that.
From Chat GBT
Here is a chronological list of plane crashes in the United States since 1970 that resulted in 50 or more fatalities:
• September 4, 1971: Alaska Airlines Flight 1866, a Boeing 727, crashed into a mountain near Juneau, Alaska, killing all 111 people on board.
• June 24, 1975: Eastern Air Lines Flight 66, a Boeing 727, encountered wind shear and crashed on approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, resulting in 113 fatalities.
• May 25, 1979: American Airlines Flight 191, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed shortly after takeoff from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago due to engine detachment, killing all 271 on board and two people on the ground.
• September 14, 1979: Allegheny Airlines Flight 853, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, collided in mid-air with a Piper PA-28 near Fairland, Indiana, resulting in 82 fatalities.
• May 25, 1979: American Airlines Flight 191, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed shortly after takeoff from Chicago O’Hare International Airport due to engine detachment, resulting in 273 fatalities.
• August 2, 1985: Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, crashed while landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport due to wind shear, causing 137 fatalities.
• August 16, 1987: Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashed after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport due to pilot error, resulting in 156 fatalities.
• December 21, 1988: Pan Am Flight 103, a Boeing 747, was destroyed by a bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground.
• July 19, 1989: United Airlines Flight 232, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crash-landed in Sioux City, Iowa, after a catastrophic engine failure, resulting in 111 fatalities.
• September 8, 1994: USAIR Flight 427, a Boeing 737, crashed near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, due to rudder issues, causing 132 fatalities.
• November 12, 2001: American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300, crashed in Queens, New York, shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport due to pilot error, resulting in 265 fatalities.
• February 12, 2009: Colgan Air Flight 3407, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, crashed near Buffalo, New York, due to pilot error, resulting in 50 fatalities.
Lets examine this one in more detail. In 20 seconds the Blackhawk rose unexpectedly from 200 ft (normal) to 400 ft (not normal) as the CRJ as expected was descending from 600 ft to 400 ft.
You have to squint to see the altitude, eg, 002 for 200
200 ft
400 ft
Normally helicopters near the airport fly low at 200 ft so planes landing and taking off fly over them
The ascent of the Blackhawk if these readings are correct is the key. Why?. Possibilities. Pilot Error, Equipment Failure, Remote Control Hijacking
On January 22 Trump issued this EO on FAA and DEI. After the crash he immediately blames DEI. Coincidence?
Problem>Reaction> Solution. How much do you want to bet AI and DOGE will be part of the solution
I’ll leave it at that. Condolences to all the families and friends of victims.
End
Ps-it occurs to me the crash distracts from the RFK Jr hearings and Trumps having to walk back the order to halt funding. The funding freeze caused RFK Jr to take a few tough questions. Not that I am implying anything nefarious.