alt.hn

8/3/2026 at 11:41:26 AM

The Potomac River Midair Collision

 https://admiralcloudberg.medium.com/reaping-the-whirlwind-inside-the-potomac-river-midair-collision-0475416f2b0f

by mplanchard

8/3/2026 at 8:01:56 PM

Well worth reading and I appreciated the PDF to print out.

by sklargh

8/3/2026 at 9:24:27 PM

I have just finished chapter 2.

About congress overriding safety concerns for their personal convenience

Air traffic controllers' concerns were shutdown by the FAA because of "politics"

I am gobsmacked. Where was the air traffic controllers' union? They could have used industrial action to address the unsafe conditions

I am yet to finish the document. I am expecting to see the ATCs and the pilots blamed by the authorities, I hope not.

by worik

8/3/2026 at 9:42:17 PM

> Where was the air traffic controllers' union? They could have used industrial action to address the unsafe conditions

Effectively neutered 45 years ago after the strike in 1981.

by Jtsummers

8/3/2026 at 10:56:09 PM

Chapter 7 has the juicy details that nobody wants to discuss.

by anonymousiam

8/3/2026 at 10:12:33 PM

>I am gobsmacked. Where was the air traffic controllers' union? They could have used industrial action to address the unsafe conditions

Think about the incentives for a few nanoseconds.

If you think a union wouldn't wheel and deal and enter into some handshake agreement to "table this one concern to next year" indefinitely in exchange for something I've got a bridge to sell you.

Adding another entity isn't gonna change the fact that the local controllers will still be the only people who care (because it's likely their ass if something happens).

by cucumber3732842

8/3/2026 at 10:25:56 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Professional_Air_Traffic_...

That's the last time there was an ATC strike, 90% were fired and they got none of their demands. Turns out, the people of the US don't care if their air traffic controllers are overworked, understaffed, and chronically exhausted. They just want to (maybe) get to their destinations.

by Jtsummers

8/3/2026 at 9:19:57 PM

I’ve read NTSB reports before. Studied aviation accidents as a hobby to help me overcome a sudden and irrational fear of flying (thanks Final Destination!).

I’m on Chapter 4, and this is, by far the best report I’ve ever read. Each section addressed in depth, historical context included because it’s important rather than omitted as being technically irrelevant. Dirty laundry splayed out on a blank canvas for the viewer to observe, digest, and reflect upon.

Not since the DC-10 have I been so incensed at an institution for its pettiness, personal vanity, and bureaucracy as I am with Congress, the FAA, the NTSB, and the DoD right now.

by stego-tech

8/3/2026 at 1:00:32 PM

6 submissions, 4 comments, and a combined 24 upvotes so far:

https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=admiralcloudberg.medi...

Keep trying, folks. This one is worth it.

EDIT:

> Note that this is a long article (~3 hour read). If you just want the executive summary of what happened, I might suggest skipping forward to chapter 7 first and then if you want more, go back and read the in-depth analysis of earlier chapters. [HN user kraussvonespy 2 days ago]

- Which doesn't mention that the first 6 para's of Chapter 7 are an excellent tl;dr; of the previous 6 chapters. And definitely understates both the detail and quality of the balance of Chapter 7 (the minute-by-minute details leading up to the crash).

by bell-cot

8/3/2026 at 7:50:11 PM

I tried to read it. Section list isn’t links. Tried to scroll, got a full screen dickbox. Gave up.

If you want to write for email, just write for email and don’t put it on the web. If you wanna put it on the web, use web features.

And either way, don’t put full screen stuff in my face when I’m trying to read.

I gave up. I’ll wait for a summary from another website that treats users better.

by MBCook

8/3/2026 at 9:20:15 PM

Download the ePub

by worik