Latest news with #NationalTransportationandSafetyBoard
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Safety board calls to end helo flights on route of fatal DC crash
The National Transportation and Safety Board has concluded that the separation distances allowed between helicopter and airplane traffic on the route where an Army helicopter and a commercial passenger jet collided midair on Jan. 29 near Washington 'pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety,' according to its preliminary investigation report released Tuesday. As a result, the NTSB is recommending helicopter flights be immediately prohibited on 'Route 4″ — where the fatal crash occurred — between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge along the Potomac River when planes are landing or taking off on runways 15 and 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The board is also recommending an alternative helicopter route between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when that segment of Route 4 is not open to rotary-wing traffic. The on-scene investigation of the collision between the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, and a UH-60 Black Hawk over the Potomac River concluded Feb. 14 When the aircraft collided, the fuselage of the commercial jet broke apart in three places and was discovered inverted in waist-deep water in the Potomac. The helicopter wreckage was found nearby. All 64 people aboard the passenger jet and all three Army crew members aboard the Black Hawk — Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach and Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara — were killed. Meanwhile, the investigation continues off-site in various labs and other secure locations, according to Jennifer Homendy, NTSB chair. The preliminary report lays out what happened but not how or why the crash happened, Homendy said in a briefing Tuesday. 'For this investigation, we're reviewing airport operations and prior incidents, including near midair collision events,' Homendy said, using information from voluntary safety reporting programs and the Federal Aviation Administration. That data shows that from 2011 through 2024, a 'vast majority' of reported incidents occurred on approach to landing, and initial analysis found that at least one Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS, Resolution Advisory was triggered per month at DCA due to a helicopter's proximity, Homendy said. Unlike traffic advisories, which are issued when an intruding aircraft is about 20 seconds or 0.3 nautical miles from the closest point of approach, TCAS resolution advisories signal a collision threat and require immediate action, Homendy said. In over half of the encounters from 2011 to 2024, the helicopter may have been flying above the route altitude restriction, which is limited to a ceiling of 200 feet above the ground, Homendy said. Two-thirds of the events happened at night. From October 2021 through December 2024, there were 944,179 commercial operations at DCA with 15,214 'close proximity events' between commercial planes and helicopters 'in which there was a lateral separation distance of less than one nautical mile and vertical separation of less than 400 feet,' Homendy said. Of those 15,214 events, there were 85 very close calls involving lateral separations of less than 1,500 feet and less than 200 feet of vertical separation, according to Homendy. Through evaluation of the crash, the NTSB found that the Black Hawk was not flying in the very limited area it should have been flying near DCA. 'At the maximum altitude here of just 200 feet, a helicopter operating over the eastern shoreline of the Potomac River would have just 75 feet of vertical separation from an airplane approaching runway 33,' Homendy said. Following the accident, the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy immediately restricted helicopter traffic from operating over the Potomac River at DCA until March 31. 'As that deadline nears, we remain concerned about the significant potential for a future midair collision at DCA, which is why we are recommending a permanent solution today,' Homendy noted. Homendy acknowledged that fully closing Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when runways 15 and 33 are in use would restrict a key aviation corridor for Coast Guard patrols, law enforcement and government operations. However, she noted that requiring controllers to hold helicopters north or south of DCA during those times could also add to controllers' workload and increase risk. To that end, NTSB is recommending the FAA establish an alternative helicopter route between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when that segment of Route 4 is closed. Although the preliminary report is out, Homendy said her team 'has a lot of work to do,' including simulations, visibility studies and additional interviews related to helicopter operations and air traffic control. When asked in the briefing whether the NTSB would call the resulting crash an oversight, Homendy said, 'I mean, it's stronger than an oversight, right? … The data we have pulled is from a voluntary safety reporting system that FAA could have used anytime. That data from October 2021 through December 2024, they could have used that information any time to determine that we have a trend here and a problem here and looked at that route. 'That didn't occur, which is why we're taking action today, but unfortunately, people lost lives and loved ones are grieving.'
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Girlfriend of Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil injured in fatal Arizona plane crash
The girlfriend of rock icon Vince Neil was one of three people injured Monday when Neil's Learjet model 35A crashed into a parked plane in Scottsdale, Arizona, killing one, Mötley Crüe's manager Allen Kovac confirmed to CNN Tuesday. Neil, who has a home in the Nashville area, was not aboard, according to the vocalist's legal representative Worrick Robinson IV, who posted a statement about the crash to the band's Instagram account. Robinson wrote that the crash happened at 2:59 p.m. local time Monday as the Learjet was trying to land, and "for reasons unknown at this time, the plane veered from the runway ... On board Mr. Neil's plane were two pilots and two passengers... "More specific details regarding the collision are not available as this is a rapidly evolving situation and there is an ongoing investigation. Mr. Neil's thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, and he is grateful to everyone involved, and he is grateful for the critical aid of all the first responders assisting today." The National Transportation and Safety Board is investigating the crash. Property records show Neil has lived in Middle Tennessee since 2017. The records show Neil's girlfriend, Rain Hannah Andreani, 43, shares the same home address. A preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration shows the pilot died in the crash while a second flight crew member and the two passengers were seriously injured. The pilot who died was identified Tuesday by Scottsdale Police as Joie Vitosky, 78. Neil owns SchoolHouse Club, a luxury rental property on the banks of the Harpeth River in Leiper's Fork, about 27 miles south of Nashville. Bret Michaels posted a photo of himself with Neil and Andreani to Instagram Monday, commenting on the crash. "My deepest sympathy and condolences to the pilot that just passed away in Scottsdale Airpark and the other pilot who was injured, as well as my thoughts and prayers to our family friend Rain (Andreani), her friends and all those that were injured in the tragic landing. I was relieved to hear that my friend Vince Neil was not on board at the time of the incident … I often fly out from this Scottsdale Airpark location and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to all involved." Kelli Kuester, a spokesperson for Scottsdale Airport, said at a Monday evening news briefing that the Learjet was arriving in Scottsdale from Austin, Texas when the crash occurred. The arriving plane's left main gear appeared to have failed upon landing, causing the collision, Kuester said. One person was aboard the parked plane at the time of the crash, officials noted. Scottsdale Fire Captain Dave Folio said Monday one person, later identified as Vitosky, was found dead when first responders arrived, two people were taken to a nearby trauma center in critical condition while another was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition. A fifth person refused treatment. Recent flight records show the Learjet left Dallas on Feb. 4 to land at Smyrna Airport in Tennessee. The next day, the jet left Smyrna for Fort Lauderdale, Fla. before leaving Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 10 to land in Austin, Texas. The 1989 Gates fixed wing multi-engine plane seats 10 and was registered to Chromed in Hollywood Inc. in June 2021 and owned by Neil. More: Plane owned by Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil involved in crash at Arizona airport Mötley Crüe formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee with guitarist Mick Mars and Neil as lead vocalist. In the past 43 years, the band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, authored 22 top 40 rock hits, received three Grammy nominations and released five New York Times best-selling books. The band's last tour stop through Nashville was in June 2022 during its stadium tour with Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Classless Act at Nissan Stadium. The crash comes before the Middle Tennessee vocalist is set to begin a Las Vegas residency with the band starting March 28 for 11 shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Following the residency, the band will play Boardwalk Rock 2025 in Ocean City, MD on May 17. Arizona Republic reporters Catherine Reagor and Perry Vandell contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Motley Crue vocalist's girlfriend injured in fatal Arizona plane crash
Fox News
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Black Hawk crew likely wearing night-vision goggles before deadly DC midair crash: NTSB
The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) chair said Thursday that, based on "preliminary information," it appears crew members of a Black Hawk helicopter were wearing night-vision goggles before a fatal collision with an American Airlines jet last week near Washington, D.C. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy spoke with reporters on Capitol Hill after briefing members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the crash that killed all 67 people on board the two aircraft. Homendy was asked if the pilots of the Black Hawk were wearing night-vision goggles. "We do believe, given the mission and given what we've heard or not heard on the CVR (cockpit voice recorder) that they were wearing night-vision goggles," Homendy said, noting she based her answer on "preliminary information." She explained that if crew members were not wearing night-vision goggles, policy would require them to state they were flying unaided. "That was not on the CVR (cockpit voice recorder)," Homendy said. "We did not find any indication of that on the CVR, which means they would not have had them on. But, again, it's preliminary." Homendy told reporters more about the Black Hawk's mission that night, which she called a "check ride." She said there are three check rides the Army performs, one of which includes instruments like night-vision goggles, and an annual check to determine a pilot's proficiency in flying. This particular flight, she noted, was a combined night-vision goggle annual check ride. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told reporters Thursday the Black Hawk helicopter had turned off its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which is permitted for military aircraft. "This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off," Cruz said after sitting in on an NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefing. ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology used to track the location of aircraft. Although the Black Hawk had a transponder to appear on radar, ADS-B is significantly more accurate. Last week, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., questioned the FAA about why it has allowed military flights to fly with the ADS-B deactivated since 2018. During the briefing on Thursday, the FAA said it has begun reviewing airports with high volumes of mixed helicopter and airplane traffic nearby after Cruz said he had sought a safety review on the matter. Still, in the aftermath of the crash, the FAA imposed significant restrictions on helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, until at least late February, with two of the lesser used runways closed. When police, medical or presidential transportation helicopters must use the airspace, civilian planes are not permitted to be in the same area, an FAA advisory notes.
