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393
Eerie Black Hawk “Conspiracy” About Secret Drill Before DC Plane Crash Turns Out To Be True
In a concerning revelation, what started as an internet conspiracy theory about the US Army helicopter that collided with American Airlines flight 5342 over Washington DC, has been confirmed as being true.
The tragedy, which occurred around 9 pm last Wednesday (January 29), claimed the lives of 67 people, three soldiers on board the military aircraft, as well as 60 passengers, and four crew members on the commercial plane.
Highlights
- What started as a conspiracy about a US Army helicopter crash turns out to be true.
- Defense sources confirmed to CBS that the military aircraft was practicing a Continuity of Government plan.
- The crash claimed 67 lives, including 3 military personnel rehearsing a president evacuation plan.
- Experts suggest reevaluating military practices in commercial airspaces post-accident.
Internet theorists had thrown around the idea that the helicopter had deviated from usual routes to practice for a Continuity of Government (COG) contingency plan, which was confirmed by defense sources to CBS.
The soldiers were indeed rehearsing an evacuation plan for the president when the Black Hawk collided with the passenger jet.
RELATED:
Conspiracy theory about the military helicopter involved in the American Airlines crash that took the life of 67 people was confirmed as true by defense sources
Image credits: Andrew Harnik / Getty
Authorities also released the names of two of the three military personnel aboard the helicopter. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves and Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara have been identified, while the third one, a female officer, has remained anonymous at the request of her family.
Image credits: Ahmedot2Osman
The New York Times described the Army’s decision to honor the family’s request as “extraordinary,” as it is standard procedure to release the names of personnel involved in fatal accidents 24 hours after notifying their relatives.
Image credits: 147th Aviation Regiment / Wikipedia
The unusual silence surrounding the co-pilot’s identity has only fueled speculation, specifically around her competency as officials revealed that she had around 500 flight hours of experience—an amount in line with expectations for her role.
Eaves and O’Hara, in comparison, had approximately 1,000 flight hours each.
Experts believe the accident should prompt a reevaluation of military practices on commercial airspaces
Image credits: René DeAnda / Unsplash
In a Bored Panda exclusive interview, Dr. Daniel Bubb, a former airline pilot with a PhD in political science from the University of Missouri, called the accident “unfathomable,” and predicted that it would lead to a rethinking of military training protocols.
Image credits: Andrew Harnik / Getty
“It’s common for military aircraft to conduct training operations in the same airspace as commercial aircraft and even share airports,” Dr. Bubb mentioned. “This is something that predates World War II.”
Image credits: Maria Oswalt / Unsplash
“This accident might prompt conversation about the danger of military and civilian operations happening [at the same time],” he added.
Dr. Bubb also correctly stated that the main focus of the investigation is likely to be the aircraft’s black boxes, as well as questioning air traffic control personnel.
Image credits: Lockheed Martin
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the recovery of the boxes yesterday (January 31).
Rescue efforts are underway with 41 out of the 67 bodies being successfully recovered, and 28 being positively identified so far.
“How can anyone make a judgement?” Despite the theory being true, netizens felt sharing conspiracies was in bad taste
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What do you think ?
Willem Andries Oosterhof 10 months ago
And Trump is running his hamburger trap again!! Always blaming someone at the first instance without having the facts. The lunatic is now running the asylum.
Tyranamar Seuss 10 months ago
It’s not realistic to expect to have to evacuate a president in separate air space. He will have to be evacuated going through commercial space. So the practice should also be in commercial space. What was wrong with this helicopter pilot that he couldn’t see the plane and maneuver around it? Sounds like maybe some equipment wasn’t working properly. And for sure communication sucked.
Alex Martin 10 months ago
The air controller knew they were going to be in the same airspace. He informed the Blackhawk Crew about the aircraft and put the on Visual Flight Rules (VFR). That basically transfers responsibility to the pilot of the helicopter to stay out of the way of the incoming jet aircraft. The Blackhawk crew radioed back that they had the plane in sight. What may have happened is the crew focused on the wrong aircraft and did not see the American Eagle plane. They could have also misjudged the vector of the plane as it was night and all they could likely see were the lights on approaching planes. Pilots have had issues for years with helicopters in the Reagan National Airport pattern. They need to deconflict the airspace.
Load More Replies...
Kelly Scott 10 months ago
I'm sorry they weren't evacuating the orange monkey during this crash. It still would have been a terrible tragedy, but it would have had one bright spot.
London Paris 10 months ago
None of this matters people . .what matters is that gay and trans people exist and it's THEIR fault this tragedy happened. Remember, if the president can be an obnoxious a*****e by inserting his own conspiracy theory into this tragedy and cause further pain, so can you. Remember to fit your own personal hate rhetoric into everything, just like the president.
Roxy222uk 10 months ago
Strange that there's already been two major air crashes immediately in the wake of Donny Fart sacking every single experienced person involved in air safety, and putting in place instead one person with zero experience - although they appear to be very loyal to Fart, strangely
Tim Gearing 10 months ago
I think it’s sad that 67 people lost their lives. Hopefully the NTSB will find the answers and recommend safer procedures to avoid another tragedy like this.
person (i think) 10 months ago
I read an interview with a former Blackhawk pilot. He said this route in particular can be extremely difficult to differentiate between oncoming airplane lights and city lights (angles, etc)
Kevin Hickey 10 months ago
They probably don't want to release her name because a horde of a-hole Trumplings will descend upon them if her name is "ethnic".
Ren Karlej 10 months ago
Well, some people certainly sent a lot of hate at Jo Ellis (trans woman who some fools thought was one of the pilots) - but the name has been released now. Captain Rebecca M Lobach. Who had been awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Lobach began her career in the United States Army as a distinguished military graduate in Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where she was a distinguished military graduate where she was in the top 20 percent of cadets nationwide.
Load More Replies...
ElfVibratorGlitter 10 months ago
I just flew into Reagan last night....so fortunately no secret drills or whatever 😔
Karina 10 months ago
Military planes and choppers have crashed into airplanes several times before. It may also have been another airplane he thought the air controll was guiding him about, and this is why he said he saw it and still plowed straight into it. This is also, sadly not uniqe to this situation. Sending love and prayers to anyone who needs it <3
Bradley Ross 10 months ago
Apparently, there was a shortage of air traffic controllers. On one of the news shows, they said that the number of flights at an airport are reduced when there are enough controllers for a full roster. A lot of the senators use this airport to catch flights back to their home state, and they don’t want to cancel flights. Is it possible that they didn’t cancel flights to avoid inconveniencing senators.
Phillip Moderow 10 months ago
I think that the investigation will reveal enough mistakes to go around. Was the Air Controller distracted, overworked, or incompetent ? Did the American Airlines pilot have an opportunity to take evasive action and didn't ? Was the Blackhawk crew flying at the wrong altitude ? Or "D", all of the above ?
JohninND 10 months ago
I look both ways before I cross the street. I'm sure it's a bit more complex in the air but where was the error? Relying on equipment rather than eyesight? Simply not checking existing flight traffic? I'm serious, not being a wise guy.
Lucas 10 months ago
Need to allow time for the investigation to come up with the answers.
Load More Replies...
iseefractals 10 months ago
Yes, people can accept that it was an accident....but it's idiotic to use that as a means of avoiding examination of factors that contributed to that accident occurring....because if you dont' do that, than it's more likely for that same thing to happen again! Was it a communication issue? That can be addressed. Was it a technical issue? That needs to be addressed. Was the playbook for the training exercise flawed? That needs to be addressed. Did the pilot lack experience or skills for those specific flight circumstances? That needs to be addressed. 60 some died, that's not an "oopsie" you can chalk up to "oh well, people make mistakes"
Lucas 10 months ago
No it isn't. Which is why it's also useless to speculate (though of course people do - certainly a lot of it triggered by Trump doing it). The investigation needs to be allowed to come up with the answers, so that the issues that caused the incident can be addressed.
Load More Replies... 
Willem Andries Oosterhof 10 months ago
And Trump is running his hamburger trap again!! Always blaming someone at the first instance without having the facts. The lunatic is now running the asylum.
Tyranamar Seuss 10 months ago
It’s not realistic to expect to have to evacuate a president in separate air space. He will have to be evacuated going through commercial space. So the practice should also be in commercial space. What was wrong with this helicopter pilot that he couldn’t see the plane and maneuver around it? Sounds like maybe some equipment wasn’t working properly. And for sure communication sucked.
Alex Martin 10 months ago
The air controller knew they were going to be in the same airspace. He informed the Blackhawk Crew about the aircraft and put the on Visual Flight Rules (VFR). That basically transfers responsibility to the pilot of the helicopter to stay out of the way of the incoming jet aircraft. The Blackhawk crew radioed back that they had the plane in sight. What may have happened is the crew focused on the wrong aircraft and did not see the American Eagle plane. They could have also misjudged the vector of the plane as it was night and all they could likely see were the lights on approaching planes. Pilots have had issues for years with helicopters in the Reagan National Airport pattern. They need to deconflict the airspace.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 10 months ago
I'm sorry they weren't evacuating the orange monkey during this crash. It still would have been a terrible tragedy, but it would have had one bright spot.
London Paris 10 months ago
None of this matters people . .what matters is that gay and trans people exist and it's THEIR fault this tragedy happened. Remember, if the president can be an obnoxious a*****e by inserting his own conspiracy theory into this tragedy and cause further pain, so can you. Remember to fit your own personal hate rhetoric into everything, just like the president.
Roxy222uk 10 months ago
Strange that there's already been two major air crashes immediately in the wake of Donny Fart sacking every single experienced person involved in air safety, and putting in place instead one person with zero experience - although they appear to be very loyal to Fart, strangely
Tim Gearing 10 months ago
I think it’s sad that 67 people lost their lives. Hopefully the NTSB will find the answers and recommend safer procedures to avoid another tragedy like this.
person (i think) 10 months ago
I read an interview with a former Blackhawk pilot. He said this route in particular can be extremely difficult to differentiate between oncoming airplane lights and city lights (angles, etc)
Kevin Hickey 10 months ago
They probably don't want to release her name because a horde of a-hole Trumplings will descend upon them if her name is "ethnic".
Ren Karlej 10 months ago
Well, some people certainly sent a lot of hate at Jo Ellis (trans woman who some fools thought was one of the pilots) - but the name has been released now. Captain Rebecca M Lobach. Who had been awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Lobach began her career in the United States Army as a distinguished military graduate in Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where she was a distinguished military graduate where she was in the top 20 percent of cadets nationwide.
Load More Replies... ElfVibratorGlitter 10 months ago
I just flew into Reagan last night....so fortunately no secret drills or whatever 😔
Karina 10 months ago
Military planes and choppers have crashed into airplanes several times before. It may also have been another airplane he thought the air controll was guiding him about, and this is why he said he saw it and still plowed straight into it. This is also, sadly not uniqe to this situation. Sending love and prayers to anyone who needs it <3
Bradley Ross 10 months ago
Apparently, there was a shortage of air traffic controllers. On one of the news shows, they said that the number of flights at an airport are reduced when there are enough controllers for a full roster. A lot of the senators use this airport to catch flights back to their home state, and they don’t want to cancel flights. Is it possible that they didn’t cancel flights to avoid inconveniencing senators.
Phillip Moderow 10 months ago
I think that the investigation will reveal enough mistakes to go around. Was the Air Controller distracted, overworked, or incompetent ? Did the American Airlines pilot have an opportunity to take evasive action and didn't ? Was the Blackhawk crew flying at the wrong altitude ? Or "D", all of the above ?
JohninND 10 months ago
I look both ways before I cross the street. I'm sure it's a bit more complex in the air but where was the error? Relying on equipment rather than eyesight? Simply not checking existing flight traffic? I'm serious, not being a wise guy.
Lucas 10 months ago
Need to allow time for the investigation to come up with the answers.
Load More Replies... iseefractals 10 months ago
Yes, people can accept that it was an accident....but it's idiotic to use that as a means of avoiding examination of factors that contributed to that accident occurring....because if you dont' do that, than it's more likely for that same thing to happen again! Was it a communication issue? That can be addressed. Was it a technical issue? That needs to be addressed. Was the playbook for the training exercise flawed? That needs to be addressed. Did the pilot lack experience or skills for those specific flight circumstances? That needs to be addressed. 60 some died, that's not an "oopsie" you can chalk up to "oh well, people make mistakes"
Lucas 10 months ago
No it isn't. Which is why it's also useless to speculate (though of course people do - certainly a lot of it triggered by Trump doing it). The investigation needs to be allowed to come up with the answers, so that the issues that caused the incident can be addressed.
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