That was a terrible move by the ATC to correct the pilot about the squawk. It could really cost the pilot’s life if it was an actual hijack and the pilot was trying to send a message via squawk… 😰
Probably should be a better procedure for the squawk comment. In the extremely unlikely case it is a hijack, that can be the only tool to let ATC know and ATC should ask them in a more subtle way to CHECK squawk and confirm that their current squawk is correct. I don’t think ATC should instruct aircraft to change squawk if 7500 has been squawked but it appears to be an emergency of other nature. Again, the odds are so slim, but imagine it was a hijacking and the pilots were using a lightning strike to declare an emergency and use the only tool to let ATC know subtly. A “can you please carefully confirm you’re currently squawking the correct nature of the emergency.” would be all it takes.
This is concerning because at the begining 5775 was not responsive to calls. I hope they did ground verifications. Regardless, this shows how setting the transponder wrong could delay help.
I thought lighting strike were common on aircraft and that the equipment is protected since the bolt passes along the aluminum outer body of the aircraft? It just sounds bad.
Lightning can cause explosions such as the radome (nose section), melt things, etc. They're lucky the comms returned. It happened to me in a helicopter when I was inbound to Corpus Christi, TX in 1980. All the main wiring bundle was fried. 💥 No radios, no lights, but lots of acrid smoke. Made a safe landing on taxiway.
Not sure if I would’ve declared an emergency if everything was working but a pan pan pan would’ve been appropriate. I’ve been struck twice in an airliner and the worst that happened was in my shorts.
Because airplanes don’t fly straight down. For example, say you are at 30000 feet. On a 3 to 1 all engine descent glide ratio it will take you about 90 miles to get down, so any airport within a circle of about 90 miles is roughly the same distance in time. Even if you are directly over an airport, it’s not actually closer in time. Because it still takes 90 miles of air distance to get down. There are other reasons too, larger airports are more familiar to the crew, and there is safety embedded in that, as well as emergency services, company support, etc. weather, time, etc. These discussions (called Monday morning quarterbacking) always result in somebody saying they have a better idea. But in a compressed time and emergency situation pilots don’t have the luxury of infinite time and resources to solve their problem. A relatively safe and responsible solution at the end is acceptable. Indicated by a reasonable outcome based on the situation. Sully crashed a plane after flying through birds. When you say it that way,…not so great. Yet the outcome was extraordinary based on the whole situation.
![All about runway markings [atc for you]](/img/1.gif)
"Hijack" is the correct spelling.
👍 Thanks. My mistake.
That was a terrible move by the ATC to correct the pilot about the squawk. It could really cost the pilot’s life if it was an actual hijack and the pilot was trying to send a message via squawk… 😰
Right, should have said something about "check squawk" or "squawk emergency" nothing that would give something away like that.
Agreed
Good point and a controller reading this will learn from it.
Probably should be a better procedure for the squawk comment. In the extremely unlikely case it is a hijack, that can be the only tool to let ATC know and ATC should ask them in a more subtle way to CHECK squawk and confirm that their current squawk is correct. I don’t think ATC should instruct aircraft to change squawk if 7500 has been squawked but it appears to be an emergency of other nature. Again, the odds are so slim, but imagine it was a hijacking and the pilots were using a lightning strike to declare an emergency and use the only tool to let ATC know subtly.
A “can you please carefully confirm you’re currently squawking the correct nature of the emergency.” would be all it takes.
👍
This is concerning because at the begining 5775 was not responsive to calls. I hope they did ground verifications. Regardless, this shows how setting the transponder wrong could delay help.
I thought lighting strike were common on aircraft and that the equipment is protected since the bolt passes along the aluminum outer body of the aircraft? It just sounds bad.
Lightning can cause explosions such as the radome (nose section), melt things, etc. They're lucky the comms returned. It happened to me in a helicopter when I was inbound to Corpus Christi, TX in 1980. All the main wiring bundle was fried. 💥 No radios, no lights, but lots of acrid smoke. Made a safe landing on taxiway.
@@daveblevins3322 Thanks for letting me know!
I feel terrible for these pilots. What a scary mistake it would have been if ATC thought they were being held hostage and actually sent fighters up...
We had really violent storms on the east coast July 1-2. Glad they are ok.
👍
Kinda figured because of the storm last week down there
Seven five - lightning did arrive
🛩⛈
⛈️🌩️
...when a pilot usually has more highjack than emergency situation.
Not sure if I would’ve declared an emergency if everything was working but a pan pan pan would’ve been appropriate. I’ve been struck twice in an airliner and the worst that happened was in my shorts.
Ahahah I l.o.l. when i heard about squawk emegergency not hijack ajha
Why he didn’t land at TF green airport in Warwick RI he was right on top why he keep flying to Boston 🤷🏽♂️
Because airplanes don’t fly straight down. For example, say you are at 30000 feet. On a 3 to 1 all engine descent glide ratio it will take you about 90 miles to get down, so any airport within a circle of about 90 miles is roughly the same distance in time. Even if you are directly over an airport, it’s not actually closer in time. Because it still takes 90 miles of air distance to get down.
There are other reasons too, larger airports are more familiar to the crew, and there is safety embedded in that, as well as emergency services, company support, etc. weather, time, etc.
These discussions (called Monday morning quarterbacking) always result in somebody saying they have a better idea. But in a compressed time and emergency situation pilots don’t have the luxury of infinite time and resources to solve their problem. A relatively safe and responsible solution at the end is acceptable. Indicated by a reasonable outcome based on the situation. Sully crashed a plane after flying through birds. When you say it that way,…not so great. Yet the outcome was extraordinary based on the whole situation.