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Eerie Black Hawk “Conspiracy” About Secret Drill Before DC Plane Crash Turns Out To Be True
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Eerie Black Hawk “Conspiracy” About Secret Drill Before DC Plane Crash Turns Out To Be True

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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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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

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    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.

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    “How can anyone make a judgement?” Despite the theory being true, netizens felt sharing conspiracies was in bad taste

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    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    Should the military update its training protocols in commercial airspaces following such accidents?

    Yes, it's necessary for safety

    No, current protocols are adequate

    Maybe, more investigation needed

    Undecided

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    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Abel is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Santiago, Chile, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a diploma in International Relations. In his spare time, you can find him tinkering with his motorbike, playing with his dog, or reading a good novel.

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    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Abel is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Santiago, Chile, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a diploma in International Relations. In his spare time, you can find him tinkering with his motorbike, playing with his dog, or reading a good novel.

    Renan Duarte

    Renan Duarte

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Renan Duarte

    Renan Duarte

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    POST
    Willem Andries Oosterhof
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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...
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    Kelly Scott
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    iseefractals
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine how people would react if anyone said the same thing about Kamala, or Biden, or Obama. I've hated trump for 30 years, but the number of people on the left spouting this kind of unhinged hate, isn't winning hearts and minds.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Willem Andries Oosterhof
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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...
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Kelly Scott
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    iseefractals
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine how people would react if anyone said the same thing about Kamala, or Biden, or Obama. I've hated trump for 30 years, but the number of people on the left spouting this kind of unhinged hate, isn't winning hearts and minds.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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