Thanks, Raf.
I think all are overlooking the “WHY?” behind this disaster.
Fears of Cold War nuclear attack on Washington, D.C., led to the creation of “escape plans” for government officials, including Congress, to relocate to secure facilities like Mount Weather. This was part of the U.S. government’s “Continuity of Government” (COG) program, which aimed to ensure the survival and functionality of the government in the event of a catastrophic attack.
Those plans are just fine, but the necessary practice of flying helicopters near DCA should have included suspending simultaneous commercial traffic to avoid this accident waiting to happen. Because that would inconvenience congress and others who demand more flights into DCA. (That the same congress who (under)fund the FAA)
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