Helicopter Crew Was Likely Wearing Night-Vision Goggles at Time of Midair Collision, NTSB Says

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

The National Transportation Safety Board says the Black Hawk helicopter was likely higher than its maximum-allowed height at the time of the crash.

The crew of the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport last month was likely wearing night vision goggles at the time of the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Feb. 14.

The agency also said it was confident that the helicopter’s radio altitude at the time of the collision was 278 feet, higher than its 200-feet maximum altitude for that route.

Additionally, the helicopter crew did not hear air traffic control’s (ATC) communication to “pass behind” the CRJ-700 jet.

“We believe the helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight, given the nature of the flight,” NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news briefing on Feb. 14.

Homendy said the crew was performing a combined annual and night vision goggle check ride.

“Additionally, had they been removed, the crew was required to have a discussion about going unaided. There is no evidence on the cockpit voice recorder, or CVR, of such a discussion on this chart.”

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had said a day after the crash that the crew was likely wearing night-vision goggles at some point during the flight.

Multiple veteran pilots told The Epoch Times that the goggles can significantly obscure the visual line of sight when looking at bright lights during evening flights.

The plane’s landing lights, along with Washington’s vast city lights on the ground below, could be “blinding,” one pilot said, potentially being a “tremendous contributing factor” to the crash, the other pilot said.

The NTSB also said the helicopter was likely above its maximum allowed altitude for that route.

“Now we’re confident with the radio altitude of the Black Hawk at the time of the collision, that was 278 feet. But I want to caution that does not mean that’s what the Black Hawk crew was seeing on the barometric altimeters in the cockpit,” Homendy said.

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Obama Floats ‘New Forms of [State-Controlled] Journalism’

Notorious nemesis of civil liberties one and all, Barack Obama, ]apparently endorses a heavy state hand in the “regulation” of information.

Privilege Is Financial, Not Racial

If we stay divided by race, we’ll keep fighting each other while the true elites of all races thrive unseen, counting their wealth in comfort.

California Repeats Illinois’ History, PROSECUTE Newsom!

California may have improperly licensed 62,000 illegal aliens as Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) truck drivers.

The Stage Is Set For A US-Instigated Security Dilemma Between The Eurasian Rimland & Heartland

The US sends mixed signals on the Sino-Russo alliance after Trump downplayed concerns while Hegseth said he was ordered to “re-establish deterrence.”

Chambers of Horror

Using a shutdown to legislate is like using a flame thrower to light a candle, it provides light momentarily but destroys everything in its path.

FBI Foils Alleged Halloween Terror Plot, Arrests Multiple Suspects in Michigan

The FBI prevented a potential terrorist attack over Halloween weekend and arrested multiple suspects in Michigan, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Oct. 31.

Vance Warns Holiday Travel Could Be ‘Disaster’ If Government Does Not Reopen

Vice President JD Vance warned on Thursday that holiday travel will be a “disaster” if the government shutdown does not end.

Trump Admin Cuts Quota for Refugees, Prioritizes Afrikaners

Trump admin slashed quota for refugees and prioritized Afrikaners “and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands.”

DHS: 8,000 Percent Jump in Death Threats Against ICE Officers

DHS reports an 8,000% surge in death threats against U.S. immigration officers, raising alarm over safety concerns for federal personnel.

US, South Korea Finalize Trade Deal Reducing Tariffs, Boosting American Investment

The U.S. and South Korea finalized a major trade deal on Oct. 29 as President Trump wrapped up the final hours of his Asian tour on the Korean Peninsula.

Trump, Japanese PM Sign Critical Minerals, Rare Earths Deal

The U.S. president visited Tokyo on the second leg...

Trump Hikes Canada’s Tariffs by 10 Percent for Not Pulling Anti-Tariff Ad Immediately

Trump announced he will increase tariffs on Canada by 10% after ad by provincial government of Ontario misrepresented President Reagan’s speech on tariffs.

Trump Rolls Back Emissions Rules on Copper Smelters

President Trump issued a proclamation aimed at reversing a Biden-era environmental rule that enforced stricter air emission standards on copper smelters.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central