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Air Traffic Controller 'Left Shift Early' Before American Airlines Disaster

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naomi24 | 11:57 Fri 31st Jan 2025 | News
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//An air traffic controller was given the job of two people after one worker clocked off early on the evening the American Airlines jet and U.S. military helicopter collided in Washington, DC, according to a report.

 

Airplane and helicopter traffic is normally handled by two separate controllers until 9:30 p.m., but a supervisor allegedly merged the two jobs before the allotted changeover time, a source told The New York Times. A preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report concluded that staffing levels were “not normal” at the time.///

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/plane-crash-washington-dc-cockpit-recording-latest-updates-b2689658.html

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That's awful. What a burden to have to carry.

According to an ATC official on CNN last night, it's permissable.

if true, it won't be the first time this has happened - Q/V the Uberlingen mid-air crash of 2002, where the ATC controller in Zurich was working 2 control panels. following that incident, a relative of one of the victims tracked down the controller and murdered him in front of his wife.

Even if it's permissable, it will still carry a huge burden of guilt and regret.

The conspiracy theories are starting. There's this in the DM...that it was a training mission for the evacuation of Trump to a nuclear bunker. I did hear that it was a training mission of some sort when it was first reported. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14346201/Doomed-Black-Hawk-chopper-rehearsing-Trumps-evacuation-nuclear-bunker-slammed-American-Airlines-jet-online-sleuths-claim-wild-conspiracy-theories-emerge.html

As usual we're getting all the conspiracy theories in early. A lot of people listen to and record air traffic controller and pilot conversations, this is not illegal. On youtube I have heard the conversation before the accident. The ATC warned the helicopter of the airliner and the pilot replies he has visual contact. Therefore the two men involved at this point were aware of events, what happened afterwards will be the subject of further investigation. Also it was not a training flight for the helicopter pilot, it was a refresher flight. In other words like a qualified driver taking an advanced drivers test. These refresher flights take place on an annual basis to maintain their flying qualifications.

According to an ATC official on CNN last night, it's permissable

 

 

Well, that will be of great comfort to air passengers.

 The conspiracy theory in the mail is rubbish, there are far better ones out there.

It may be permissible under the present system, but events seem to show it isn't acceptable for H&S reasons.

The fact that there was only one ATC at the time is irrelevant, he had already warned the helicopter of the other aircraft and the pilot had replied. 

The fact that there was only one ATC at the time is irrelevant

 

 

Really?

 

It’s one thing for internet pundits to spew up conspiracy theories. It’s another for the president of the United States of America to throw out idle speculation even as victims are still being recovered and families are still being notified.

It's not a good look for anyone ...

Indeed but did the other aircraft get told, and was a subsequent WTH message given to the chopper ?

 

No doubt the contents of the "black boxes" will be interesting.

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They played that on BBC news last night, Vulcan, but said there was another plane in the vicinity and pilot may have thought the controller was referring to that.

naomi, I'm afraid the BBC is as good as anybody else with theories.

Clone, there is a lot of talk at the moment about the controller handling both the aircraft and helicopter at the same time. This is quite normal, on a busy period a controller is handling 20-25 aircraft on their frequency, simultaneously.

//It’s another for the president of the United States of America to throw out idle speculation //

I guess they phoned you up and told you, but didnt bother telling the President🙄

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>>> "A lot of people listen to and record air traffic controller and pilot conversations, this is not illegal"

As this thread refers to the USA, that's correct.  However listening to ATC transmissions in the UK is an offence under Section 48 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.

Irrespective of any conspiracy theories, what is clear is that the pilot of the military helicopter ('PAT25') wasn't acknowledging any ATC transmissions, contrary to standard procedures (where pilots routinely 'read back' all information and instructions given to them).  That might suggest some sort of radio failure.

Sends a shiver up your back listening and watching that.:0(

Chris, saw something about this on news earlier.  It is the law in the UK that all transmissions from ATC are repeated from aircraft to make sure they have been heard properly but from the ex ATC controller they were speaking to it is not the case in the USA.  Often nothing is repeated.  Maybe a change will now take place over there.

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