A weekend of extremes in American airspace: One collision, one narrow escape
Towards the peak of the conflict in New Jersey, the aircraft were separated by
a Vertical Separation of just 400 to 500 feet.
WASHINGTON, Dec 31: The final weekend of 2025 has been marked by a somber tragedy
in New Jersey and a breathtaking "miracle" in Texas, as federal investigators
scramble to understand a pair of aviation incidents that illustrate the razor-thin
margins of safety in the skies.
Fatal midair collision in southern New Jersey.
In Hammonton, New Jersey, a routine flight between two lifelong friends turned
fatal on Sunday morning. Authorities have identified the victims as Kenneth
Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, both experienced pilots who were well-known
fixtures at the local municipal airport.
At the peak of the conflict, the aircraft were separated by a Vertical Separation
of approximately 400 to 500 feet.
Horizontal (lateral) separation: Roughly 1,200 to 1,300 feet (about a quarter-mile).
Context of the proximity:
To put these numbers in perspective, standard separation requirements for aircraft
in this type of environment are typically 1,000 feet vertically or 3 miles horizontally.
Witnesses at the Apron Cafe, where the duo had just shared breakfast, watched
in horror as the two helicopters—an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C—took off
together before colliding approximately a mile and a half from the runway. According
to the Hammonton Police Department, the aircraft became entangled midair, causing
both to spin violently into a farm field. Pilot Greenberg was pronounced dead
at the scene, while Kirsch succumbed to his injuries after being airlifted to
a regional trauma center. One helicopter was engulfed in flames,
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun a "see and avoid"
investigation, focusing on whether sun glare or cockpit blind spots prevented
the pilots from maintaining visual separation. "They were regulars, kind people
who flew together nearly every week," said Sal Silipino, the cafe’s owner. "To
see them fall from the sky like that is simply heart-wrenching."
Seconds from Disaster: The Houston "Near-Miss"
While New Jersey mourns, the aviation community is reeling from the release
of harrowing ATC audio involving a close call at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental
Airport (IAH). On December 18, but only fully detailed this week, two commercial
jets narrowly avoided a catastrophic midair collision during simultaneous departures.
The incident involved Volaris Flight 4321, an Airbus A320neo bound for El Salvador,
and United Express Flight 4814, an Embraer E145 operated by CommuteAir. After
taking off from parallel runways, the Volaris pilot inadvertently executed a
right turn instead of the assigned left turn. This error placed the heavy Airbus
on a direct intercept course with the smaller regional jet.
The disaster was averted only when the onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance
Systems (TCAS) in both cockpits issued "Resolution Advisories," commanding the
pilots to climb and descend immediately. Ground radar showed the planes coming
within a terrifyingly short distance of one another before banking away. The
FAA has confirmed a full investigation into the pilot deviation and the response
time of air traffic controllers, who were reportedly managing heavy traffic
loads at the time.
A growing concern
Together, these incidents have reignited a national conversation regarding
pilot situational awareness and the increasing density of U.S. airspace. While
technology saved hundreds of lives in Houston, the manual "see and avoid" requirements
of general aviation proved insufficient to save two friends in New Jersey. As
2026 approaches, federal agencies are under renewed pressure to enhance safety
protocols across both commercial and private sectors.
The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.
Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.
A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924)
(Today's headlines )
Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”
Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.
PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.
Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people.
(Today's headlines )
"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...
Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.
Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.
As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.
"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.
Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.
ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!
What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America!
(Today's headlines )
PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).
In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.
THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.
The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.
Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See:
New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)
ANALYSIS: "The standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by ICE that is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints," says the Government. That means, it is taken for granted the US will set the standard for deportations. For another, the Government is more interested in comparing with what happened in 2012 under a different Government to justify its own compliance! No surprise, others are trampling upon us. (How we conduct ourselves inside decides, inherently, how we are treated outside) Thirdly, the Government blamed the gangs doing the business of human trafficking for the illegal migration. For all the crimes taking place in the country, let us blame the criminals! Funny! We will never move an inch forward! The mindset defines what we are.
Meanwhile, a UN-returned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor sounded like a layman when he said, "If they are citizens of India we have an obligation to take them back." Who said 'No'?. He should know that is not the issue now. Who will identify an undocumented person, and how?
OPINION: A nutty 'new' Trump must know checking illegal immigration is his job and not theirs. And 'penalty' tariff is not a solution. However, Trump talking about "major threat" from "illegal aliens" (illegal immigration) is about what he believes, right or wrong, and to that extent he is genuine and honest; it is certainly not a pretension to prop up his political relevance. Bullies are always true to themselves. Look at India's crooked politicians shouting day in, day out to prove they are more patriotic, and to whip up public sentiments for them to ride on!
The function was held indoors from 12 pm (10:30 pm IST) at the rotunda of the US Capitol building because of unusually intense cold and snow. Delivering his inaugural address, Trump remarked, “The golden age of America begins right now," and just hours later signed a slew of executive orders to redeem the election pledges.
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