Crash over the Hudson

**Red_Lizard2** · 08-09-09, 08:42 AM

heard about this today, i swear air travel seems to be getting more dangerous now.

curious how in clear weather how neither saw each other. I'm guessing ATC wasn't involved either

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8191582.stm

Nine people have been killed after a helicopter carrying tourists and a light aircraft collided near New York City and crashed into the Hudson River.

The collision occurred between Hoboken, in New Jersey, and Manhattan, just across the river, on Saturday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said six people - one pilot and five Italian tourists - were on the helicopter. Three people including a child were on the plane.

Three bodies have been found and divers were returning to the area on Sunday.

Mr Bloomberg said on Saturday that the emergency operation had changed from a rescue to a recovery mission and that the incident was "not going to have a happy ending".

He said it appeared the plane had flown into the rear of the helicopter, but stressed that an investigation needed to be carried out.

He said rescue workers had located some wreckage, probably of the helicopter, but that due to the limited visibility 30ft under the water it had not been possible to confirm which of the aircraft it was.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Debbie Hersman said that a helicopter pilot on the ground had seen the plane approaching the helicopter.

"He radioed the accident helicopter and told him: 'One-lima-hotel. You have a fixed-wing behind you.' There was no response from the pilot," she said.

The pilot on the ground then saw the plane's right wing strike the helicopter and both aircraft "descended into the Hudson River", she added.

Falling debris

Television footage showed rescue craft heading to the site, about level with Manhattan's West 14th Street, from both sides of the Hudson River after the incident happened.

"We heard first a huge crash, a boom almost," said Melissa Green, who was having lunch on the New York bank of the river at the time.

"We turned around and saw these two mushroom splashes," she told the Associated Press news agency.

Other witnesses described seeing debris - including the plane's wing - falling into the water.

On the river front at Hoboken, people scattered as debris landed. An aircraft wheel fell on to a street, AP reported.

"We saw the helicopter propellers fly all over," said Hoboken resident Katie Tanski.

The helicopter was operated by Liberty Helicopters, a sightseeing company that flies tourists around sites such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The light plane took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and was heading to Ocean City in the same state, an aviation official said.

The weather at the time of the collision, noon local time (1600 GMT) on Saturday, was said to be clear and mild.

In January, a passenger plane with 155 people aboard ditched into the Hudson River without loss of life, after apparently hitting a flock of geese.

**~~hawgballs~~** · 08-09-09, 08:46 AM

For anyone that is familiar with Chicago politics,.....................this is a shining example as to why Meigs Field closing was a good idea.

**Red_Lizard2** · 08-09-09, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by hawgballs

For anyone that is familiar with Chicago politics,.....................this is a shining example as to why Meigs Field closing was a good idea.

don't know a thing about chicago politics but wasn't meigs field like a small airport right on a lake or something? Names sounds familiar to an Airport in Flight Sim 98

**~~hawgballs~~** · 08-09-09, 08:58 AM

Yes, it was a small runway on Northerly Island. It was closed down and the runway torn up in the dead of night, much to the consternation of the suburbanite businessmen that used it. No big loss in any actual Chicagoan's eyes.

**Red_Lizard2** · 08-09-09, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by hawgballs

Yes, it was a small runway on Northerly Island. It was closed down and the runway torn up in the dead of night, much to the consternation of the suburbanite businessmen that used it. No big loss in any actual Chicagoan's eyes.

what was the reason they tore it up?

**~~hawgballs~~** · 08-09-09, 09:20 AM

It was said, "for safety". Considering it was literally downtown and 911 had just happened recently before that, I can buy that. But to be honest, I don't need a reason, I think the fact that millions of Chicagoans can actually utilize that land now, and not just business elites(that don't even live in the city) that can afford an airplane.

**Manse** · 08-09-09, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Red_Lizard2

heard about this today, i swear air travel seems to be getting more dangerous now.

It's perception. How many people are killed in car crashes daily?

Air travel is only 'unsafe' because the rarity of the events serve to emphasize when something happens. People remember big crashes from years ago, but may pass 5 wrecks on the interstate in a week and not notice.

**Red_Lizard2** · 08-09-09, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Manse

Originally Posted by Red_Lizard2

heard about this today, i swear air travel seems to be getting more dangerous now.

It's perception. How many people are killed in car crashes daily?

Air travel is only 'unsafe' because the rarity of the events serve to emphasize when something happens. People remember big crashes from years ago, but may pass 5 wrecks on the interstate in a week and not notice.

yes but compare the number of big crashes we've had this summer to all of last year or the year before