Did they substitute a "special VIP" to board the chopper rather than a second crew chief? And, is the real reason why the BlackHawk crew did not respond to calls was not the lack of flight experience or expertise on their part, but the fact that their craft was remotely controlled?
-NW

WAYNE ROOT: Here is the Best Explanation I’ve Heard for the Crash at Reagan Airport From An Experienced Blackhawk Pilot and Crew Chief
by Assistant Editor | Gateway Pundit
Jan. 31, 2025

[snip]

My longtime friend is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army who served in the roles of both Blackhawk helicopter pilot, and Blackhawk Crew Chief as well. No one knows this helicopter better than my friend. Let’s call him Colonel Joe.

In his opinion, the biggest issue is the flight was missing a fourth crew member for a night flight- a second Crew Chief.

Colonel Joe’s Executive Summary:

*The single-greatest error in this accident was the decision to fly without a second Crew Chief on the left-hand side of the Blackhawk, who could have provided an extra set of eyes to “look out-and-up” to see the approaching American Airlines Passenger plane.

*Night Vision Goggle (NVG) flights result in a sort-of “tunnel vision” for all who wear the NVGs and normal policy in many Army flight units is to force a full crew of 2 pilots and 2 crew chiefs for all NVG flights, so that you always have “eyes out” to both sides of the aircraft,? when flying in those conditions. While not mandatory, it is the proper safety call, especially when flying in the vicinity of a busy, major airport such as Reagan Airport (DCA). No matter how competent the pilots and Crew Chiefs may be, this flight needed a second Crew Chief on the left side of the chopper.

*The front-left pilot, even if not wearing Night Vision Goggles, would still have limited visibility out the left door, and if that pilot is busy with radio calls, or referencing the map/GPS, that pilot could get consumed by work inside the cockpit, instead of looking out and around.

*Flight Unit Leadership failed to recognize the need for a second Crew Chief in the Mission Planning and Risk Assessment Process. This is where either incompetence, or DEI (or both), may have come into play. This was certainly poor leadership.

*Known mistakes by the Blackhawk Flight Crew point to a lack of experience and/or competence. We’ve heard in the media that both pilots were “experienced.” This is just not true. Someone is “blowing smoke” to the media, to President Trump, and to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to “cover their ass.” The collective level of experience of the pilots was not impressive. Their level of experience is like comparing a rookie in the NFL to a second-year player. The pilot had the experience of a second-year player, while the co-pilot was a rookie. This was NOT an experienced crew to be flying at night, near a major airport, without a second crew chief.

*Radio calls were not responded to by the Blackhawk crew, and they flew at 350 Feet above ground level (AGL), whereas reports say they were supposed to fly at 200 Feet AGL. These two mistakes alone show that the crew were not as experienced or professional as reported to President Trump, Defense Secretary Hegseth, or the media.