Flight simulator recreates chilling final moments of DC plane crash, Internet slams it as 'too soon'
WASHINGTON, DC: The journeys undertaken by American Eagle flight 5342 and the military Black Hawk helicopter which led to their collision near the Washington Reagan National Airport on Wednesday, January 29, have been recreated by flight simulators, reported the Mirror.
The American Airlines flight was carrying 64 people and the helicopter had 3 people onboard when they crashed at approximately 8.53 pm, as per the Independent. The remains of the aircraft fell into the Potomac River, and everyone involved is presumed dead.
It is the deadliest incident involving an aircraft in the United States since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Among those who perished were young ice dance partners Angela Yang and Sean Kay, who were considered rising stars within the sport.
Simulations recreate moments leading to the accident
A Sky News reporter was taken on a simulator ride of the Black Hawk's trip by Voyager Flight Simulation co-owner Paul Lang the day after the accident. It was followed by training pilot Andy Lee taking him through another simulation of the route the American Airlines passenger flight from Wichita, Kansas, would have taken to land if it had not met with the tragic fate.
Lang pointed out the position of the helicopter at the time of the collision while piloting the simulation aircraft. When asked if the crew would have known much about the crash, he noted, "No, not until it actually happened I reckon.”
In the passenger flight simulation, Lee made a similar observation ahead of the flight's 'landing' as he stated, "Suddenly, this is where the flight ended.”
The Black Hawk crew were reportedly "very experienced," which makes the tragedy all the more shocking. As Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation shared, "Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn't something new to either one of them. Even the crew chief in the back has been in the unit for a very long time, very familiar with the area, very familiar with the routing structure."
Internet reacts to the simulation clip
Netizens reacting to the simulation video uploaded by Sky News on YouTube mourned the loss of lives in the tragedy. The following examples demonstrate their takes.
"The fact they were so close to land is heartbreaking," wrote a person.
"Considering that the investigation has just begun it is absolutely premature and ignorant to act as though they know any of the details," shared another.
"RIP to all that lost their lives, I can't help but find this simulator to be a little bit too sensitive, too soon," noted one user.
"This is brutally insensitive to the families of the deceased," slammed another individual.
"What is the point of this ?" inquired someone else.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
