Passenger plane/ Blackhawk helicopter crash into Potomac

[Minnie1222]

I have no words for this.

Okay, I do. The airplanes caused nothing. Removing the human factor, they'd still be on the ground.

You're right! What I should have said was categorically 9/11 was also considered an aviation disaster, since it was a disastrous event directly caused by airplanes.

"Removing the human factor", to me and apparently me alone, meant ignoring the people who were inside the cockpit at the time of the incident, but that was the wrong choice of words.

 

[sam_gordon]

9/11 was an intentional act.
Wednesday nights collision wasn't (assuming).

THATS the difference.

 

[Minnie1222]

9/11 was an intentional act.
Wednesday nights collision wasn't (assuming).

THATS the difference.

Yes!
But can they both be filed under Aviation Disaster? Or does the term disaster only imply unintentional acts?

 

[fly girl]

We are getting into semantics here.

Technically, I guess you can call 9/11 an aviation disaster.

However, for most of us (especially those in airline industry) wouldn't even place it on the realm of that category. We don't call 9/11 an aviation disaster. We call 9/11 an act of terrorism. 9/11 was an attack. Personally, I cannot put it on the same level as what happened Wednesday night.

Media is using that because although it is factual, it gains clicks and interest. I don't like it. They just aren't the same.

Obviously, you may feel differently and I completely understand that. I just can't put this accident in the same box as 9/11. Not even remotely close.

 

[Minnie1222]

Obviously, you may feel differently and I completely understand that. I just can't put this accident in the same box as 9/11. Not even remotely close.

I don't feel differently at all. Just trying to see how to describe the situation correctly.

 

[fla4fun]

Yes!
But can they both be filed under Aviation Disaster? Or does the term disaster only imply unintentional acts?

Personally I think disaster can be used to describe a tragic event, especially one with a large loss of life, whether deliberate/intentional or accidental. At this time, based on what I have heard, I don’t believe there was anything intentional about what occurred this week. Both events will show up in the same statistical lists which solely count the numbers of victims. However, 9/11 is just so much bigger in every aspect, from the planning to the end result, that it kind of stands on its own in the memories of a lot of people and probably will for a long time to come.

The media will do whatever it has to in order to get clicks these days, so I tend to take their sensationalism with a huge grain of salt. All I need are the facts.

 

[lanejudy]

We are getting into semantics here.

Semantics and emotions. The message is basic -- the US has not seen an airline incident of this magnitude in the past 23+ years.

 

[fly girl]

I don't feel differently at all. Just trying to see how to describe the situation correctly.

I got you!

I just can't get behind the media correlating the two. Totally different scenarios. And actually, the media jumped for clickbait and forgot American Airlines flight 587 that crashed on 11/12/2001. That was after 9/11, killing 265 people (251 passengers, 9 crew members, 5 people on the ground.)

This is the deadliest crash since 11/12/01, not 9/11/01.

 

[fly girl]

Semantics and emotions. The message is basic -- the US has not seen an airline incident of this magnitude in the past 23+ years.

Media forgot AA 587, read my post above.

Emotions are high. We are heartbroken.

 

[sarahann77]

Just heartbreaking. As I see the figure skaters being identified with the news; it's just gutting. So young. I believe the young man who's parents were coaches on the flight is from my area.

 

[hrhdhd]

Semantics and emotions. The message is basic -- the US has not seen an airline incident of this magnitude in the past 23+ years.

Words matter. September 11 wasn't an "incident." Goodness.

 

[wvjules]

I flew into DCA last night. I fly in/out of there at least monthly. It's my favorite airport. I actually love coming down the river and seeing Georgetown, or the monuments (depending on the approach), as I come home.

I will post some of what I posted on the Controversial Board.

"I flew in to DCA last night approximately 24 hours after the crash. Our landing path didn't take us over that area of the Potomac but it was surreal knowing that there was such tragedy 24 hours before my plane landed there.

I drive home along the GW Parkway. They have Gravelly Point park closed off as a staging area. Lots of tents set up for the recovery efforts. I did only see two small-ish boats in the water. I couldn't tell if they were rescue boats or what but it was almost 10pm when I drove past so I can't imagine they were pleasure boats.

On my way to the parking garage, I was thinking that there are probably some cars in there with no owners now. No one to get in them and drive home after a trip to KS and uneventful flight. No parents and kids talking about their next skating event and being excited for their future. No flight crews planning on their next trip. Two colleagues won't be planning their next trip to KS for work. No longer spending time with their families and friends. No more. Just no more anything."

 

[sam_gordon]

Media forgot AA 587, read my post above.

Emotions are high. We are heartbroken.

And DL 5191 in 2006. Not as many as 587, and not as many as this week, but still a tragedy.

 

[fly girl]

And DL 5191 in 2006. Not as many as 587, and not as many as this week, but still a tragedy.

Absolutely, very much still a tragedy.

The Comair flight on the wrong runway in the dark before sunrise in LEX. Remember that one well since it was a regional for Delta and CVG was home to Comair.

And Colgan flight in Buffalo too. Crew mishandled stall warning. That accident changed rest requirements for pilots.

I will be shocked if no changes come about after this accident.

 

[sam_gordon]

Absolutely, very much still a tragedy.

The Comair flight on the wrong runway in the dark before sunrise in LEX. Remember that one well since it was a regional for Delta and CVG was home to Comair.

And Colgan flight in Buffalo too. Crew mishandled stall warning. That accident changed rest requirements for pilots.

I will be shocked if no changes come about after this accident.

Obviously close to me, in fact my neighbor was on 5191 on her way to her honeymoon. I always have to look up the date, but definitely memorable.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Words matter. September 11 wasn't an "incident." Goodness.

Yes they do. September 11 is a month and a day. If you're going to rip others for not using the specific phrase, "terrorist attack," you could try practicing what you preach.

That said, it can be both a terrorist attack AND an aviation incident. It all depends on the context of the discussion. To say one does not preclude the other.

 

[RedAngie]

1632 Charter from King Charles to Lord Baltimore establishing Maryland's border there.

I read a while back that enterprising Virginians built piers into the Potomac back when to take advantage of Maryland’s looser alcohol laws. They’d be imbibing over Maryland waters.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I read a while back that enterprising Virginias built piers into the Potomac back when to take advantage of Maryland’s looser alcohol laws. They’d be imbibing over Maryland waters.

LOL crafty.

 

[georgina]

I flew into DCA last night. I fly in/out of there at least monthly. It's my favorite airport. I actually love coming down the river and seeing Georgetown, or the monuments (depending on the approach), as I come home.

I will post some of what I posted on the Controversial Board.

"I flew in to DCA last night approximately 24 hours after the crash. Our landing path didn't take us over that area of the Potomac but it was surreal knowing that there was such tragedy 24 hours before my plane landed there.

I drive home along the GW Parkway. They have Gravelly Point park closed off as a staging area. Lots of tents set up for the recovery efforts. I did only see two small-ish boats in the water. I couldn't tell if they were rescue boats or what but it was almost 10pm when I drove past so I can't imagine they were pleasure boats.

On my way to the parking garage, I was thinking that there are probably some cars in there with no owners now. No one to get in them and drive home after a trip to KS and uneventful flight. No parents and kids talking about their next skating event and being excited for their future. No flight crews planning on their next trip. Two colleagues won't be planning their next trip to KS for work. No longer spending time with their families and friends. No more. Just no more anything."

Similar experience picking up DD last night when she flew back. Daingerfield Island Park on the other end of the airport is closed also. Turns out she lost 2 co-workers on the flight, and there was a good chance she would have been with them on that flight if she didn't get sent elsewhere instead. I keep thinking about how we would explain to a 3 year old that mama is never coming back, and it breaks my heart for all those who perished.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So far reading the list of victims none are people I recognize but had this been a flight originating from KCI that likelihood would have increased, most people don't drive down to Wichita to fly out of there if they are closer to KCI. There's a lot of localized coverage of it here. There are people they've listed from Kansas who were on the plane and I'm going to keep an eye out on that list, I think it's slim I would have known anyone but there's still many unidentified and others who have not been recovered yet (I read they need to bring the fuselage up to collect more victims).

I saw an interview last night with an NTSB representative who was down there who got choked up when he was talking about it and then I got that lump in my throat.