February 7, 2025: NTSB B-Roll on recovery of the Sikorsky UH-60 military helicopter from the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport, Arlington, VA.
This is the sharpest and clearest video I have seen so far from the crash site. The total obliteration of the front of the Black Hawk makes me wonder how they ever found recoverable remains, unless the remains were thrown from the aircraft at the moment of crash.
Happens with nearly all high speed, high energy aircraft accidents. For example, Edwards AFB, CA has seen many high energy crashes over the years, especially at the Test Pilot School.
It's so moving looking at the helicopter wreckage knowing the story of the accident. We shouldn't forget, 3 souls lost their lives in this very aircraft, no matter the cause 😔
In the middle of that trailer is one of the main landing gear assemblies from the CRJ. Was that inside the wreckage of the Hawk? If so, that goes a long way to explaining why that cabin is so mangled.
I guess you are talking about the 2 wheel axle that can be seen at 2:08 right in the middle of the trailer. As of what’s in the front of the trailer, I wonder whether it could be parts from the left CRJ landing gear arm and mechanism, or detached parts from the CH-60’s front end. In any case, this speaks to the violence of the impact.
@@joso5554 I'm a former army helo mech (67U/15U for those in the know) but with a lot of H-60 experience as a contractor. Working left from the MLG assy, the first part with the oval shaped opening is from the engine exhaust duct HIRRS (Hover Infra-Red Reduction System), then the APU installation (the black hole you see is the APU exhaust), then parts from the flight control system, then the big grey box is the roof of the cabin that the main rotor transmission attaches to, and then the main rotor gearbox, swashplate, & rotor head with whats left of the blades roots still attached to the spindle.
I mean the CRJ lost a whole wing when it was hit, which is why it crashed so fast :/ So yes, the landing gear was expected to be in roughly the same position where the heli was located
The GE T700 engines are a pretty compact engine, and that results in a dense piece of equipment. I’ve seen more than a few recovered wrecks from my time in the sandbox where the engines were in similar condition, just covered in dirt & sand.
😢 My heart aches for those who perished and for the families that are in mourning. Looking at this chopper, I am just in awe they we’re able to recover remains. May they rest in peace now. 🙏🌺
Somber and aching in my heart is the only way to describe this video. I really hope this tragedy will prevent something similar from ever happening again. We have the most incredible technology ever, and there is just no excuse IMO that a military helicopter could impact a commercial airliner like this. I don't care the cost to get the technology needed to prevent it, it needs to be done.
I don't think either we're going that fast. The plane lands around 115-125 and the helo was going no more than 80 from the looks of it. The plane in Philly was going 242mph when it hit or possibly a little faster
There is no reason to. The bodies were recovered and removed. It’s wreckage just as if it were any other type of car, truck fatality accident. In my area as EMS Rescue worker we only cover to obscure human remains.
How anyone thought these routes were ok must be a very dumb person! Im not a pilot, but I can draw lines, and had common sense. The glide path to runway 33, 300 feet at river bank, let say 200 feet at mid river point, and 100 feet at end of runway, and you have Helicopters flying under that? Outrageous! This wasnt an accident, it was negligent homicide!
I think it was intentional because the helicopter pilot did not do anything at the " oh, sheet" moment, whereas the pilot of the airplane pitched the nose up. The helicopter pilot must have seen the plane at some point before the impact, whether or not night vision goggles was worn. The "oh, sheet" moment is when you try to preserve your own life.
I’m curious - why has there not been any NTSB press conference updates on any of the recent incidents? I suspect the reason but would like an explanation.
@RTiffThere’s a lot for the NTSB to process. They’re studying the wreckage and the recorder data. At some point the docket with the data will appear on the website with a preliminary report and the final report will be released in due course.
They don't owe an explanation to anyone, but they don't always hold press conferences. They usually only do that for major incidents in commercial aviation and rail, and major incidents on the roads that involve buses or like the NY Limo incident years ago. They will likely cover the crash in Alaska, but the plane wreckage was just found. They don't usually have press briefings for incidents in general aviation unless it is a situation that impacted the community such as crashes into neighborhoods and structures. Also high profile incidents or ones that have alot of public interest. It's nothing nefarious or anything. They've been unusually public lately. I cannot remember another situation where they have held so many press conferences.
Does anyone know if this is an M or an L model? M models have advanced technology. They were supposed to be training with Matrix autonomy system in 2025, that would only be for the M models. At first I was hearing that this was an M, but on Wikipedia it says L. However if you check the citation on Wikipedia, the source cited actually also says it is an M. Why doesn't NTSB say which model it is? It does matter, because they have different technology on board. I hope they will clear this up and let us know.... Blackhawks with Matrix autonomy system can also be flown remotely from 300 miles away, demonstrated in October 2024 at the AUSA 2024 conference by Lockheed. The crewmember in the cabin is also able to pilot the aircraft via tablet, using this new system, which was due for roll out in 2025. Look into that. Also with PAT11 on January 28th, 2025. Check if it had this new tech on board, it may have played a role.
I had heard it was a L model. Some former Blackhawk pilots claim to have flown that aircraft. I think the unit only has L models. I flew Blackhawks from 1992 to 2000. There were L models around back then, but I only flew the A model before I got out.
@@jkbeaudoin Thanks. I had another helo pilot tell me its very hard to tell the difference between L and M from the outside. They couldn't tell me based on this video. M's have different internals though, fancier sensors and whatnot. NTSB will know the difference if they find them.
@ Thanks for the info, but I am not asking about traditional autopilot here. The technology I am speaking of is like autopilot, but far more advanced. Using AI technology for augmented pilot assistance + fully autonomous flight in congested air traffic environments (similar to DCA). This is what it was built for. FAA regs require a crew on board, can't fly full auto in civilian airspace, although the capability has already been demoed.
NOBODY TALKS ABOUT THIS! ***Regarding the aircraft wreckage in the water - what environmental cleanup measures were taken to mitigate contamination to the Potomac River ecosystem and shoreline - resulting from spilled JET A- jet fuel, engine oils & lubricants, hydraulic fluids, and other liquid and solid wastes?
I imagine there wasn't much fuel left after such a long flight from Kansas for the jet, and some burned in the initial explosion at impact, and the rest probably is diluted to the point you wouldn't be able to "clean it up" and will eventually evaporate out. What they don't recover aircraft part wise will settle into the muck like the 200+ years of other debris that has fallen into the river and sank to the bottom. Is this really your main concern with this accident?
When is the NTSB going to tell us what was on the black box(es) of the helicopter, recovered a WEEK AGO? WHat altitude did the helicopter's instruments say it was at? Crickets.
This is the sharpest and clearest video I have seen so far from the crash site. The total obliteration of the front of the Black Hawk makes me wonder how they ever found recoverable remains, unless the remains were thrown from the aircraft at the moment of crash.
They probably had the pilots still strapped in but the crew chief was probably thrown. Unless side doors were closed. I'd hate to be the recovery team
Happens with nearly all high speed, high energy aircraft accidents. For example, Edwards AFB, CA has seen many high energy crashes over the years, especially at the Test Pilot School.
Absoutely right makes me wonder too.
Sobering picture. May all the lost souls rest in peace.
Looks like it was flattened by hitting the riverbed at 120+ mph.
Thank you for your Transparency.
I cannot fathom what the divers found, looking for the bodies. My heart hurts for everyone involved in this disaster. Peace.
I don’t know how you guys do this job but thank you for your hard work! 😢
It's so moving looking at the helicopter wreckage knowing the story of the accident. We shouldn't forget, 3 souls lost their lives in this very aircraft, no matter the cause 😔
Our NTSB is the best in the world! Bless you for your service and sense of care!
Yikes! That UH-60 just plowed into the CRJ passenger jet. Front end is completely demolished.
Wow I had no idea
It hit the left wing. On one of the videos you can see the CRJ rotating anticlockwise due to the missing left wing.
That is heartbreaking to see. RIP ❤🇺🇸
Heart goes out to families and those affected. NTSB - Beautiful job as always. Keep strong. (From Canada)
In the middle of that trailer is one of the main landing gear assemblies from the CRJ. Was that inside the wreckage of the Hawk? If so, that goes a long way to explaining why that cabin is so mangled.
I guess you are talking about the 2 wheel axle that can be seen at 2:08 right in the middle of the trailer.
As of what’s in the front of the trailer, I wonder whether it could be parts from the left CRJ landing gear arm and mechanism, or detached parts from the CH-60’s front end.
In any case, this speaks to the violence of the impact.
@@joso5554 I'm a former army helo mech (67U/15U for those in the know) but with a lot of H-60 experience as a contractor. Working left from the MLG assy, the first part with the oval shaped opening is from the engine exhaust duct HIRRS (Hover Infra-Red Reduction System), then the APU installation (the black hole you see is the APU exhaust), then parts from the flight control system, then the big grey box is the roof of the cabin that the main rotor transmission attaches to, and then the main rotor gearbox, swashplate, & rotor head with whats left of the blades roots still attached to the spindle.
I mean the CRJ lost a whole wing when it was hit, which is why it crashed so fast :/
So yes, the landing gear was expected to be in roughly the same position where the heli was located
@@get2dachoppa249he's talking about the landing gear on the trailer at 2:03.
@@RubenKelevra Correct, and the components I described start from the left of the the MLG assy on the trailer.
The engine is surprisingly intact given the magnitude of the impact
The GE T700 engines are a pretty compact engine, and that results in a dense piece of equipment. I’ve seen more than a few recovered wrecks from my time in the sandbox where the engines were in similar condition, just covered in dirt & sand.
Tough job. I appreciate the post. I wasn't are it had external stores support installed until now.
How were bodies recovered from that?
They felt no pain. RIP crew
😢 My heart aches for those who perished and for the families that are in mourning. Looking at this chopper, I am just in awe they we’re able to recover remains. May they rest in peace now. 🙏🌺
Somber and aching in my heart is the only way to describe this video. I really hope this tragedy will prevent something similar from ever happening again. We have the most incredible technology ever, and there is just no excuse IMO that a military helicopter could impact a commercial airliner like this. I don't care the cost to get the technology needed to prevent it, it needs to be done.
Please post the same video but showing the plane
Holy sh*t. They were going above 200mph when they crashed?
I don't think either we're going that fast. The plane lands around 115-125 and the helo was going no more than 80 from the looks of it. The plane in Philly was going 242mph when it hit or possibly a little faster
Zero chance of surviving 🙏🏼🇺🇸🙏🏼
🙏
The helicopter appeared to fly into the water post impact leading me to believe the blades did the damage. Seeing this makes me think differently.
No wonder the helicopter appeared to destroy the left wing of the CRJ.
A very sad and avoidable loss of life for all concerned.
Is there a volume button on here…zero sound… my volume on tablet is up to high
Why didn't they cover the wreckage before transporting it?
There is no reason to. The bodies were recovered and removed. It’s wreckage just as if it were any other type of car, truck fatality accident. In my area as EMS Rescue worker we only cover to obscure human remains.
How anyone thought these routes were ok must be a very dumb person! Im not a pilot, but I can draw lines, and had common sense. The glide path to runway 33, 300 feet at river bank, let say 200 feet at mid river point, and 100 feet at end of runway, and you have Helicopters flying under that? Outrageous! This wasnt an accident, it was negligent homicide!
I think it was intentional because the helicopter pilot did not do anything at the " oh, sheet" moment, whereas the pilot of the airplane pitched the nose up. The helicopter pilot must have seen the plane at some point before the impact, whether or not night vision goggles was worn.
The "oh, sheet" moment is when you try to preserve your own life.
I saw the first video and i keep watching these 2 videos as i try to understand why
They'll manage to find 101 things wrong with that aircraft to blame the collision on. Altimeter, fetzer valve, flux capacitor, etc. NVG too. RIP.
Wow...what a mangled mess! Lord have mercy!
I hope their parents don’t stumble across this. Rest in peace to the victims🇺🇸🕊
Especially Lobach's. They might demand the video be scrubbed from the internet too.
Looks like they plowed head on into the CRJ.
That brings “black hawk down” to a whole diff level 💔
Oh man it's destroyed
I’m curious - why has there not been any NTSB press conference updates on any of the recent incidents? I suspect the reason but would like an explanation.
Because they haven't yet anything to say?
Uhm there have been.
@@KJamesMellickindeed, except for the lost Alaska Cessna Caravan still being searched.
@RTiffThere’s a lot for the NTSB to process. They’re studying the wreckage and the recorder data. At some point the docket with the data will appear on the website with a preliminary report and the final report will be released in due course.
They don't owe an explanation to anyone, but they don't always hold press conferences. They usually only do that for major incidents in commercial aviation and rail, and major incidents on the roads that involve buses or like the NY Limo incident years ago. They will likely cover the crash in Alaska, but the plane wreckage was just found. They don't usually have press briefings for incidents in general aviation unless it is a situation that impacted the community such as crashes into neighborhoods and structures. Also high profile incidents or ones that have alot of public interest. It's nothing nefarious or anything. They've been unusually public lately. I cannot remember another situation where they have held so many press conferences.
Does anyone know if this is an M or an L model? M models have advanced technology. They were supposed to be training with Matrix autonomy system in 2025, that would only be for the M models.
At first I was hearing that this was an M, but on Wikipedia it says L. However if you check the citation on Wikipedia, the source cited actually also says it is an M.
Why doesn't NTSB say which model it is? It does matter, because they have different technology on board. I hope they will clear this up and let us know....
Blackhawks with Matrix autonomy system can also be flown remotely from 300 miles away, demonstrated in October 2024 at the AUSA 2024 conference by Lockheed. The crewmember in the cabin is also able to pilot the aircraft via tablet, using this new system, which was due for roll out in 2025.
Look into that. Also with PAT11 on January 28th, 2025. Check if it had this new tech on board, it may have played a role.
I had heard it was a L model. Some former Blackhawk pilots claim to have flown that aircraft. I think the unit only has L models. I flew Blackhawks from 1992 to 2000. There were L models around back then, but I only flew the A model before I got out.
@@jkbeaudoin Thanks. I had another helo pilot tell me its very hard to tell the difference between L and M from the outside. They couldn't tell me based on this video. M's have different internals though, fancier sensors and whatnot. NTSB will know the difference if they find them.
@@_ramen The L has an HF antenna, the M dosn't.
It did not have an autopilot system if that helps
@ Thanks for the info, but I am not asking about traditional autopilot here. The technology I am speaking of is like autopilot, but far more advanced. Using AI technology for augmented pilot assistance + fully autonomous flight in congested air traffic environments (similar to DCA). This is what it was built for.
FAA regs require a crew on board, can't fly full auto in civilian airspace, although the capability has already been demoed.
ruclips.net/user/shortsE1g8dujMJEk?si=Avc6GAHVWPNC6YRr stay safe folks! ❤
NOBODY TALKS ABOUT THIS! ***Regarding the aircraft wreckage in the water - what environmental cleanup measures were taken to mitigate contamination to the Potomac River ecosystem and shoreline - resulting from spilled JET A- jet fuel, engine oils & lubricants, hydraulic fluids, and other liquid and solid wastes?
Seek help immediately. What a comment!
I imagine there wasn't much fuel left after such a long flight from Kansas for the jet, and some burned in the initial explosion at impact, and the rest probably is diluted to the point you wouldn't be able to "clean it up" and will eventually evaporate out. What they don't recover aircraft part wise will settle into the muck like the 200+ years of other debris that has fallen into the river and sank to the bottom. Is this really your main concern with this accident?
@@littlewingpsc27 He’s just virtue signaling that he is a climate crusader.
Women drivers am I right
Oh right. I’m sure that you can go lower than that comment. Give it a try. Everyone is so impressed
When is the NTSB going to tell us what was on the black box(es) of the helicopter, recovered a WEEK AGO? WHat altitude did the helicopter's instruments say it was at? Crickets.
The NTSB statement was there's going to be a preliminary report within 30 days after the investigation commenced.
300
@ 30. And a final report closer to a year at least.
Nobody owes you a rapid answer… call customer service, you trauma sponge.
It actually takes time to download and carefully analyze the data from CVRs and FDRs.
wASTED
☕️🇺🇲