The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!! [More]
To my admittedly untrained eye, and I’m evidently not the only one, it looked deliberate. Am I wrong to question?
We need information on the principals involved.
I am wondering if the helo pilots were wearing night vision goggles, and the plane was outside their peripheral vision.
Helo never deviated from path. Did the helo pilot believe he’d pass behind the RJ at his then current speed and heading?
Maybe we’ll see the final report in a year or so after the departed are forgotten and the news has moved on the fubars of the day.
Would not want to have been approach controller this day.
One of the stories I read last night had quotes from ATC. The Blackhawk pilot acknowledged seeing the plane, and ATC told him to pass above or behind (I forget) it. There was a period of no response, then…
I admit I briefly donned my conspiracy hat, but I try to avoid going down that path. Commenters on a New York Post article, naturally, had no such qualms.
Right now I’m inclined to think there was bad communication and that this was a horrible accident