Investigators believe a misplaced label on a signal wire during the ship’s construction ultimately caused the Dali to lose power and collide with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has identified the label as the root cause, as it prevented a proper connection in a circuit breaker leading to a blackout. The initial blackout resulted in loss of steering and critical equipment failure, followed by a second blackout when power was not restored quickly enough. The NTSB is expected to vote on the cause of the crash and approve a final report with the collapse projected to cost 4.3 to 5.2 billion with the bridge opening by late 2030.
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The NTSB hearings regarding the Black Hawk and passenger jet collision revealed that the helicopter’s altimeter was faulty and that controllers had previously warned the FAA about the dangers posed by helicopter traffic. The investigation found a discrepancy in altimeter readings, and the FAA was criticized for not addressing safety concerns. Moreover, the FAA failed to recognize a history of near-miss incidents. The final report is expected next year, but it is unlikely that one specific cause will be identified.
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The NTSB’s reliance on Elon Musk’s X platform for news updates is deeply troubling. This situation raises serious concerns about the potential for censorship, manipulation, and a blatant disregard for transparency in government operations. The fact that an agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents is now constrained to using a platform owned by a private individual with known political leanings is alarming.
This development effectively places a significant constraint on the NTSB’s ability to communicate directly with the public. Any information released will be subject to the whims of the platform’s owner, raising the specter of information being filtered, delayed, or even suppressed entirely.… Continue reading
Seuk Kim, a 49-year-old pilot known for his volunteer work transporting rescued dogs, died in a plane crash in New York’s Catskill Mountains. The crash, involving a Mooney M20J aircraft, also resulted in the death of one dog, while another injured dog was rescued and a third later found safe. The incident is under investigation by the NTSB, with weather conditions at the time noted as light rain and a foot of snow on the ground. Kim was flying for a nonprofit organization dedicated to animal rescue and transport.
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This situation with Boeing and the US safety agency is truly mind-boggling. The fact that a video of door-plug removal was overwritten is suspicious at best. As an aircraft mechanic who works on Boeings, not for Boeing, I can attest to the meticulous documentation and records kept in the airline industry. The scale of work performed on these planes should generate a great deal of documentation, as safety and compliance are paramount.
When the NTSB chair, Jennifer Homendy, mentioned that Boeing failed to disclose documents and the names of workers involved in the door-plug opening and closing, it raised a red flag.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood