Chilling conspiracy theory about Black Hawk’s secret drill in DC plane crash confirmed
WASHINGTON, DC: In a stunning revelation, what began as an internet conspiracy theory has now been confirmed as true: the tragic collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 over Washington DC on January 29, was linked to a secret military drill.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 9 p.m. on January 29, resulted in the deaths of 67 people, including three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk, 60 passengers, and four crew members of the commercial flight.
CNN released the American Airline Crash from a different angle . This is so sad 😞 Do you guys think the “Black Hawk” had enough time to move ? pic.twitter.com/6X9Fm9ScGa
— Trelli Trelle (@Trellitrelle_) January 31, 2025
Defense sources confirm helicopter’s COG drill role in collision
Initial speculations had surfaced online, suggesting that the helicopter had deviated from its usual route to conduct training for a Continuity of Government (COG) contingency plan.
Defense sources have confirmed this theory, confirming that the soldiers were indeed rehearsing an evacuation plan for the president when the Black Hawk collided with the passenger jet, as per Bored Panda.
Authorities have also released the names of two of the three military personnel aboard the helicopter. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves and Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara have been identified, while the third military member, a female officer, remains anonymous at her family's request.
In a rare move, the Army has honored the family’s wishes, which The New York Times has described as “extraordinary.” Typically, the military protocol involves releasing the names of personnel involved in fatal accidents within 24 hours of notifying relatives.
The decision to withhold the third soldier’s identity has sparked further speculation, particularly regarding her qualifications. Officials revealed that the female officer had around 500 flight hours of experience, which aligns with expectations for her role.
Eaves and O’Hara, in comparison, had approximately 1,000 flight hours each.
Expert predicts military training protocols will be reconsidered after deadly collision
Dr Daniel Bubb, a former airline pilot with a PhD in political science from the University of Missouri, discussed the incident in an exclusive interview. He described the crash as “unfathomable” and predicted that it would lead to a reconsideration of military training protocols.
“It’s common for military aircraft to conduct training operations in the same airspace as commercial aircraft and even share airports,” Dr. Bubb said. “This is something that predates World War II.”
He further added, “This accident might prompt conversation about the danger of military and civilian operations happening [at the same time].”
As the investigation continues, the primary focus is on the recovery of the Black Hawk’s black boxes, with officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirming the recovery of the boxes on January 31.
Dr Bubb correctly noted that questioning air traffic control personnel is also likely to be a key aspect of the inquiry.
