Luv2play Posted January 31 Posted January 31 I know it’s always a human tragedy when airplane crashes claim the lives of a group of people. But I find it especially poignant when it involves a team of athletes. I picture in my mind these young people at the peak of their young lives, competing at the highest levels of physical achievement, being cruelly cut down by fate. As I felt this morning when I read of the crash in DC. I know everyone on that plane has their unique life story but these athletes perform in the public eye. We admire their talents but also their physiques which are beautiful to watch in motion. To know they met a horrific end, mangled in an airplane crash, just tears me up. I react the same way any time an airplane crash claims someone I admire such as a singer or movie personality. Of course there are other accidents such as car accidents or boat disasters but they usually don’t involve teams of athletes. The exception being a bus accident in Canada several years ago that wiped out a team of young hockey players. That affected me the same way. Colton, Monarchy79, + Charlie and 2 others 5
CuriousByNature Posted January 31 Posted January 31 4 hours ago, Luv2play said: I know it’s always a human tragedy when airplane crashes claim the lives of a group of people. But I find it especially poignant when it involves a team of athletes. I picture in my mind these young people at the peak of their young lives, competing at the highest levels of physical achievement, being cruelly cut down by fate. As I felt this morning when I read of the crash in DC. I know everyone on that plane has their unique life story but these athletes perform in the public eye. We admire their talents but also their physiques which are beautiful to watch in motion. To know they met a horrific end, mangled in an airplane crash, just tears me up. I react the same way any time an airplane crash claims someone I admire such as a singer or movie personality. Of course there are other accidents such as car accidents or boat disasters but they usually don’t involve teams of athletes. The exception being a bus accident in Canada several years ago that wiped out a team of young hockey players. That affected me the same way. The Humboldt Broncos crash - 16 dead if I recall correctly. Horrible, horrible tragedy.
+ augustus Posted January 31 Posted January 31 Just a horrible situation. If the airport is congested, and it is, then something should have been done years ago. It's a small airport with just 2 runways I believe. The VIP's insist on using it because it's right next to DC. Who cares about legislators having to travel an extra 20 minutes to Dulles?! rvwnsd, + Charlie and + Lucky 3
LostUpstate Posted January 31 Posted January 31 I too have had difficulty processing this terrible news. It is those young skaters that touched me the most as well. Those kids ranged in age from like 8 or 9 to 16, and were so talented. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve shed a few tears reading about their too-short lives. I heard about it about 45 minutes after it happened and then had trouble sleeping because I was praying they’d find survivors. + Charlie, BSR and Luv2play 2 1
Luv2play Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 17 hours ago, CuriousByNature said: The Humboldt Broncos crash - 16 dead if I recall correctly. Horrible, horrible tragedy. And at least one other paralyzed from the waist down. BSR 1
Peter Eater Posted February 1 Posted February 1 On 1/31/2025 at 12:25 AM, augustus said: The VIP's insist on using it because it's right next to DC. Who cares about legislators having to travel an extra 20 minutes to Dulles?! Dulles is 26 miles away from DC, in suburban Virginia. In addition to extra de-planing time (shuttles, for example), it’s minimum 40 minutes by car and an hour by train into the city. + Pensant, Monarchy79, thomas and 3 others 6
mike carey Posted February 1 Posted February 1 Dulles is an alternative that is less painful now that the Metro goes there, but many will still opt for a central location like National. The real question is whether National is safe and if not what can be done to avoid more tragedies like this one. It can, and although it's over 40 years since the Florida airways crash, two at the same airport is concerning. For the sake of the innocent lives lost this week, the investigation needs to look at what can be done to make it safer. If that means fewer flights or higher fees to pay to enhance safety measures so be it. Let those rather than the whim of politicians concerned for their own convenience decide whether such an airport can be commercially viable. Edit to add: If military aviation in the vicinity is essential for operational reasons (security flights) or the affairs of state (VIP transport) then civilian air traffic should be limited to the extent needed to allow that, but if the military aviation relates to routine tasks, for example the daily operations of Fort Belvoir it is that which should be limited to ensure the safety of civil aviation at National. But this thread, although prompted by the American Airlines crash is about the wider topic of the human tragedy for those affected by crashes. Luv2play, + Charlie, + sync and 1 other 4
viewing ownly Posted February 1 Posted February 1 Fellow forum member AZDR got me hooked on "Airplane Disasters", a show that is on the Smithsonian Channel. In the video of the DC crash, it's probable that the military plane pilot was focusing on the plane taking off to be clear of, not the plane landing. Both are visible in the footage. The PSA tragedy in San Diego eons ago was similar, with the jetliner's crew focusing on airspace of a different plane than the one that hit them. With the recent Pennsylvania tragedy, that to me looks like a classic tragic case of the flaps not being set. That vital thing for pilots to overlook causes far too many tragic disasters right after takeoff. That plane simply sunk like a rock, which any plane would do if the wings aren't properly prepared for liftoff at the right time. + Charlie 1
Monarchy79 Posted February 3 Posted February 3 On 1/31/2025 at 3:25 AM, augustus said: Just a horrible situation. If the airport is congested, and it is, then something should have been done years ago. It's a small airport with just 2 runways I believe. The VIP's insist on using it because it's right next to DC. Who cares about legislators having to travel an extra 20 minutes to Dulles?! Dulles is a bit further than 20 minutes away from DC. However, it’s my preferred airport in the area as it’s more peaceful and has more direct international flights. I live right across the water from National Airport and I refuse to use it. It’s so congested that you can see the planes idling in mid air, waiting in “sky-traffic” to land….. + augustus 1
marylander1940 Posted February 3 Posted February 3 On 1/31/2025 at 3:25 AM, augustus said: Just a horrible situation. If the airport is congested, and it is, then something should have been done years ago. It's a small airport with just 2 runways I believe. The VIP's insist on using it because it's right next to DC. Who cares about legislators having to travel an extra 20 minutes to Dulles?! The legislators care and they have kept the airport open and congested. One more thing, unless is way too early in the morning we take Metro to both airports. thomas and + augustus 1 1
marylander1940 Posted February 3 Posted February 3 6 hours ago, Monarchy79 said: Dulles is a bit further than 20 minutes away from DC. However, it’s my preferred airport in the area as it’s more peaceful and has more direct international flights. I live right across the water from National Airport and I refuse to use it. It’s so congested that you can see the planes idling in mid air, waiting in “sky-traffic” to land….. facts don't matter, the truth is not the truth... + Vegas_Millennial, + augustus and Peter Eater 1 2
Monarchy79 Posted February 3 Posted February 3 19 minutes ago, marylander1940 said: facts don't matter, the truth is not the truth... Huh?
Peter Eater Posted February 3 Posted February 3 1 hour ago, Monarchy79 said: Huh? He’s referring to the larger philosophy of the person who posted the obvious falsehood. EZEtoGRU, + augustus and marylander1940 1 1 1
Monarchy79 Posted February 3 Posted February 3 3 minutes ago, Peter Eater said: He’s referring to the larger philosophy of the person who posted the obvious falsehood. Oh, Thank You.
Thomas_Belgium Posted February 3 Posted February 3 On 1/31/2025 at 2:33 AM, Luv2play said: ...But I find it especially poignant when it involves a team of athletes. I picture in my mind these young people at the peak of their young lives, competing at the highest levels of physical achievement, being cruelly cut down by fate... In my opinion it's very sad because it's the 2nd time this happens to the US Skating Team: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabena_Flight_548#Loss_of_American_figure_skating_team + Charlie and marylander1940 1 1
+ augustus Posted February 3 Posted February 3 3 hours ago, Peter Eater said: He’s referring to the larger philosophy of the person who posted the obvious falsehood. Oh wow, being off on travel time. My last trip there took 20 minutes. + Vegas_Millennial and marylander1940 1 1
+ augustus Posted February 3 Posted February 3 5 hours ago, marylander1940 said: facts don't matter, the truth is not the truth... Oh really, making a fuss about travel time???? You don't live there and my last trip took to Dulles from DC took 20 minutes. marylander1940 1
mike carey Posted February 4 Posted February 4 Ok guys, enough! This topic is about the tragedy of air crashes of which there have just been two in the US. At a stretch, it's about airports in the DMV region. Cut the coded snide remarks about the politics of the issues or of your fellow forum members, especially to quibble over minor details, they are off topic. And while you're at it, kindly refrain from other forays off the topic of the thread. prof, rvwnsd, pubic_assistance and 2 others 1 2 2
marylander1940 Posted February 4 Posted February 4 (edited) 8 hours ago, augustus said: Oh really, making a fuss about travel time???? You don't live there and my last trip took to Dulles from DC took 20 minutes. I live in DC and I guarantee you even without traffic it takes at least 40 minutes to go from any part of the city to Washington Dulles. 21 hours ago, Monarchy79 said: Dulles is a bit further than 20 minutes away from DC. However, it’s my preferred airport in the area as it’s more peaceful and has more direct international flights. I live right across the water from National Airport and I refuse to use it. It’s so congested that you can see the planes idling in mid air, waiting in “sky-traffic” to land….. Agreed! I only go there when I have direct flights to SFO, MSY, SEA, MSP, etc. a fly United. The discussion about getting rid of Reagan Airport comes and goes, DCA just can't handle so many flights. Edited February 4 by marylander1940 + augustus and + Vegas_Millennial 2
+ augustus Posted February 4 Posted February 4 1 hour ago, marylander1940 said: I live in DC and I guarantee you even without traffic it takes at least 40 minutes to go from any part of the city to Washington Dulles Not at 4 am. + Pensant and marylander1940 1 1
jeezifonly Posted February 7 Posted February 7 I have a friend who refuses to fly. It dates back to 2001. It’s been limiting to his life, and his husband of 17yrs, and he won’t take the steps (free at the airport!) to get past it even with consistent, but light pressure from friends. i won’t push him any longer. It’s not safe. marylander1940 1
ICTJOCK Posted February 7 Posted February 7 It was a tragedy for us in Kansas. Many heartbroken families and the Wichita community was certainly very sad. My thoughts and prayers to all those involved, those lost and their family and friends. marylander1940, + Pensant, + Summerson and 1 other 1 3
+ BenjaminNicholas Posted February 7 Posted February 7 3 hours ago, jeezifonly said: i won’t push him any longer. It’s not safe. You have statistics to back that claim up? You're much more likely to die in a car crash than a plane crash. Flying is safe. Always has been. + Pensant, MikeBiDude and marylander1940 3
mike carey Posted February 7 Posted February 7 1 hour ago, BenjaminNicholas said: You have statistics to back that claim up? You're much more likely to die in a car crash than a plane crash. Flying is safe. Always has been. I had read it as saying that it wasn't safe to tell him, rather than flying wasn't safe because it still clearly is (recent changes to staffing arrangements in the FAA notwithstanding), but I now suspect that it was flying he was talking about. There may have been slight changes in aviation safety, but if so they are within the margin of error. I'm about to take my chances again, and I'm more concerned about the standard of in-flight service, or lack thereof. + BenjaminNicholas 1
CuriousByNature Posted February 7 Posted February 7 7 hours ago, mike carey said: I had read it as saying that it wasn't safe to tell him, rather than flying wasn't safe because it still clearly is (recent changes to staffing arrangements in the FAA notwithstanding), but I now suspect that it was flying he was talking about. There may have been slight changes in aviation safety, but if so they are within the margin of error. I'm about to take my chances again, and I'm more concerned about the standard of in-flight service, or lack thereof. Funny how three of us can all read the same thing slightly differently - I thought he meant it would not be safe for his friend to fly due to his anxiety and stress. Anyone have a fourth interpretation? mike carey and + BenjaminNicholas 1 1
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