Army aviation was having a bad few years—even before the Black Hawk helicopter plane crash in Washington DC

Recommendable!

"... Army aviation saw 17 class-A mishaps—that is, accidents that killed someone or caused more than $2.5 million in damage—during fiscal 2024, which ran from October 2023 through September. Thirteen of them have taken place since last January. ...

The Army’s data shows a different story: a rise in mishaps over the past five years, with a small dip in 2022, then spikes in 2023 and 2024. ...

According to the Army Combat Readiness Center’s annual assessment, those 15 accidents were the most the service has seen since 2007. And the rate of 1.9 mishaps per 100,000 flight hours was nearly four times the service’s previous worst year on record, 2022. ...

Still, the service has self-reported that “an ineffective safety culture was one of the most cited causes of Army on-duty mishaps” in reports during that time period. 

Army data from 2023-24 shows that 39 “unsafe acts” led to class-A mishaps during that time: 24 skill errors, 12 judgment errors, and three intentional deviations from protocol. The mishaps include multiple instances in which a procedure or checklist wasn’t followed or an action was rushed or delayed, and one instance each of ignoring a warning and extreme lack of discipline, the data shows. ..."

Army aviation was having a bad few years—even before Wednesday’s crash - Defense One "The service’s fiscal 2024 mishap rate was the highest since 2007."

Suicidal Mass Murder And Medical Confidentiality

Posted: 3/31/2015 Updated: 4/8/2015

Update (1)

Just read this New York Times article “The Mind of Those Who Kill, and Kill Themselves” confirming my suspicion early on that this copilot did it for fame or for a desire of infamy. This clearly suggests that mental illness is not necessarily the main contributor or explanation.

Original

In the wake of the deliberate crash of the GermanWings airplane (flight no 9525) into the French Alps by its copilot (Andreas Lubitz) killing 150 passengers, the debate has also focused on the pros and cons of medical confidentiality.

First of all, let’s put things into perspective: Incidents of suicidal mass murder committed by mentally ill people is rare. As long as we do not have much better diagnostics and medical treatments for mentally ill people prevention of such incidents is difficult.

Second, we observe that this copilot apparently has acted extremely irresponsible (he had a sick notice from his doctor and was not supposed to report to work on that day) and also deceptive. Had this young man, who apparently suffered from suicidal tendencies, been responsible we would have expected him to have acted differently. He and only he probably knew better how serious his condition was. Thus, any relaxation of medical confidentiality is not advisable and would have probably the opposite effects of what was intended.

Third, my theory is that this young man was seeking fame. I find it highly incredulous that the copilot had some kind of mental episode just when the first officer left the cockpit. Apparently, he began to lock the cockpit door instantly! He left no notices and he did not speak into the voice recorder!

Fourth and more importantly, the medical records of the deceased mass murderer should be released and made public so we all can learn more. What medication was he on etc. etc.?

What A Blunder By Lufthansa

Posted: 3/26/2015

I am not familiar with all the details of the German Wing airplane (Flight no. 9525)  that was apparently, according to the latest news, deliberately crashed into the French Alps by the copilot, who was by himself in the cockpit at the time. A perfect mass murder or the infamous 15 minutes of fame!

Why Lufthansa did not follow the U.S. safety procedures, reportedly in place since 9/11, mandating that there are always two persons (e.g. copilot and a crew member) in the cockpit is a mystery. This is particularly true since cockpit doors were more secured since 9/11 to prevent terrorists from entering the cockpit.

This quite a lapse for Lufthansa since Germans are so famous for thinking of any precautions etc. What if the copilot had become unconscious while the pilot is outside of the cockpit and the cockpit door is secured from the inside?

As an investigator I would also investigate the pilot as the timing of his cockpit exit could be suspicious. He just happened to leave the cockpit when it was approaching this remote area of the French Alps. Apparently, the copilot did not waste time to descend the plane.