Latest news with #BlackhawkHelicopter
Boston Globe
14 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Florida man died on Mt. Washington after falling off steep, rocky slope, officials said
'There is no indication of how Davis ended up at that location and how far he had traveled over the rocky terrain to get there,' officials said in a news release. 'He was not a hiker, had no map, and every indication is he wandered off the summit without telling anyone where he was going.' Advertisement Davis took a railway to the summit on Wednesday with his wife, officials said, before wandering away from the observation deck around 3:20 p.m. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Fish and Game officials were notified around 6 p.m. of Davis's disappearance, and a State Park employee successfully made phone contact with him, officials said. Davis told the employee he was lost, officials said, but his description of his whereabouts led authorities to believe he was near the summit and would be found easily. Yet after officials searched for him for more than an hour, Davis stopped answering his phone. On Wednesday night, more than 24 rescuers a drone team combed the western side of the summit, officials said, searching off-trail locations until 2 a.m., when fog and wind forced them to suspend the search. Advertisement Several more rescue agencies joined the search the next morning, officials said. Unable to find Davis, and dealing with worsening weather conditions, officials suspended the search at nightfall on Thursday. The search resumed Friday morning, with rescue teams concentrating on the east and south slopes. At approximately 11 a.m., volunteer searchers found Davis's body in an off-trail area between Alpine Garden and Tuckerman Ravine trails, officials said. An Army National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter retrieved the body just before 1 p.m., officials said. 'It was a tragic end to a tough search mission,' officials said. 'The Fish and Game Department would like to thank all the volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to bring Davis back to his family.' Steve Smith , a hiker and former member of the Pemigewasset Valley Search & Rescue Team, said the area where Davis's body was found is about a quarter mile from the summit. 'It's very steep, rough, and rocky up there,' he said in a text message. Truman Dickerson can be reached at
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Texas inspectors approved Camp Mystic's disaster plan 2 days before deadly flood, records show
The National Weather Service had issued a flood watch for the area on July 3 at 1:18 p.m. That danger prompted at least one of the roughly 18 camps along the Guadalupe River to move dozens of campers to higher ground. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Camp Mystic, established in 1926, did not do that and was especially hard hit when the river rose from 14 feet (4.2 meters) to 29.5 feet (9 meters) within 60 minutes in the early morning hours of the disaster. Flooding on that stretch of the Guadalupe starts at about 10 feet (3 meters). Advertisement A wall of water overwhelmed people in cabins, tents and trailers along the river's edge. Some survivors were found clinging to trees. First responders looked through debris along the bank of the swollen Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Monday. LOREN ELLIOTT/NYT The uncertainty about what happened at Mystic comes as local officials have Advertisement At least The potential for heavy rains had put precautions in motion as the state activated an emergency response plan and moved resources into the central Texas area. The state inspected Camp Mystic on July 2, the same day the Texas Division of Emergency Management activated emergency response resources ahead of the anticipated flooding. The inspection found no deficiencies or violations at the camp in a long list of health and safety criteria. The camp had 557 campers and more than 100 staffers at the time between its Guadalupe and Cypress Lake locations. The disaster plans are required to be posted in all camp buildings but aren't filed with the state, said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services. 'We do not have them,' Anton wrote in an email. 'You'd have to get it from the camp.' A Blackhawk Helicopter flew over the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic looking for the remains of victims, on Monday. Jim Vondruska/Getty Camp Mystic did not respond to requests for comment on its emergency plan. In a statement on its website, the camp said it has been 'in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.' Camp Mystic notes that it is licensed by the state and a member of the Camping Association for Mutual Progress, which says its goal is to 'raise health and safety standards' for summer camps. Leaders of that association didn't return messages. Advertisement The American Camp Association said Tuesday that Camp Mystic is not accredited with that organization, whose standards focus on safety and risk management. Spokesperson Lauren McMillin declined to say whether the camp previously had been accredited with the association, which describes itself as 'the only nationwide accrediting organization for all year-round and summer camps.' One rain gauge about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Camp Mystic recorded 9.5 inches (24 centimeters) of precipitation July 4, according to Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority data. Another of the agency's gauges — further south and to the west — recorded 12.2 inches (31 centimeters) of precipitation. The authority told the AP that a review of its equipment found both were functioning during the flood event. However, at least four United States Geological Survey gauges along the Guadalupe River experienced some level of failure July 4. The gauges, located near Hunt and Kerrville, stopped collecting both river levels and the flow rate of water in the early morning hours of July 4. The flooded South Fork of the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, on Saturday. CARTER JOHNSTON/NYT One gauge, about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east of Hunt and 5 miles (8 kilometers) northeast of Camp Mystic, recorded a level of 29.5 feet (9 meters) at 4:35 a.m. on July 4, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. It was the last recorded river level from the instrumentation until a USGS hydrologist installed a temporary gauge. At the time, the hydrologist measured the high water mark at 37.52 feet (11.44 meters), a preliminary estimate that could change. At that location, a river level of 32 feet (9.75 meters) could lead to 'disastrous life-threatening flooding,' which could cover the roads of the lowest camps and resorts, according to NOAA. Advertisement Associated Press reporter Hannah Fingerhut contributed.
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Texas Flooding: Drone, Helicopter Collide Amid Search and Rescue, City Says
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Emergency operations in flood-stricken Kerr County, Texas, suffered a setback on Monday when a privately operated drone collided with a helicopter involved in emergency operations, city officials said. Newsweek reached out to Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. via email for additional comment. Why It Matters Over 90 people have died with dozens still missing following the flash flooding on the Guadalupe River. An all-girls camp in Kerr County, Camp Mystic, confirmed over 25 staffers and campers have died following the deadly surge. Search and rescue missions are ongoing in the region as President Donald Trump signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the area while noting over 800 people have been saved. What To Know In a post on Facebook Monday by Kerrville City Hall, officials reiterated that private drones need to be grounded following the collision. "This afternoon, a private drone illegally operating in restricted airspace collided with a helicopter involved in emergency operations in Kerr County. The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing, and a critical piece of response equipment is now out of service until further notice," the post read. Continuing, city officials said, "This was entirely preventable." "Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are not suggestions. They are federal airspace rules designed to protect lives during emergency situations. When you fly a drone in restricted areas, you're not just breaking the law -- you're putting first responders, emergency crews, and the public at serious risk," Kerrville City Hall concluded. Kerr County Sheriff's Office gave an update on local flood fatalities on Facebook Monday saying 84 deceased have been found as of 2 p.m. CT. That number includes 56 adults and 28 children, the sheriff's office says. Ten campers from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for along with one counselor. "We ask private boat owners to stay off the Guadalupe River and its tributaries at this time to allow search and rescue teams to operate without interference," the sheriff's office also asked. A Blackhawk Helicopter can be seen flying over the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic looking for survivors or the remains of victims swept up in the flash flooding on July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas.... A Blackhawk Helicopter can be seen flying over the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic looking for survivors or the remains of victims swept up in the flash flooding on July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (Photo by) More What People Are Saying Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday: "In the face of disaster, Texans come together. This is every parent's nightmare, but we will come through this." Trump on Truth Social on Sunday: "I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need. These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State. Our incredible U.S. Coast Guard, together with State First Responders, have saved more than 850 lives. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!" Texas Governor Greg Abbott on X on Monday: "DPS troopers continue recovery and rescue operations in Kerr County. They have been working day and night. We will not stop until every missing person is found." What Happens Next Emergency search and recovery teams continue to operate in Kerr County and surrounding communities, with federal and state authorities coordinating to address immediate needs.
The Independent
14-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Dramatic helicopter rescue saves two hikers hit by lightning near peak of Colorado mountain
Two hikers hit by lightning were rescued from a Colorado peak in dramatic and record-setting fashion. One man remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday while the other was treated at a hospital and released. The rescues happened late Thursday near the summit of Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot mountain about 40 miles west of Denver. Torreys Peak is ranked variously as the 11th or 12th highest summit in Colorado and is less than 200 feet shorter than the state's highest mountain, Mount Elbert. The men from New York state, whose identities weren't released, had decided to summit the mountain during a road trip, Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said. They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise. 'It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground. Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning. About 30 rescuers went up the mountain while another team used a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to get the more seriously injured man, who was non-responsive and in critical condition, off the peak using a hoist at 14,200 feet. It is believed to be the highest helicopter rescue in the state's history. He was flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, then to a Denver hospital with a burn unit, Smith said. The helicopter made another trip around midnight to fetch the less seriously hurt man by partially touching down on the mountain. The rescuers believe Colorado's previous record for a helicopter rescue was 13,700 feet. Such rescues are challenging because thin air causes helicopters to lose lifting ability the higher they fly; the Blackhawk has an altitude limit of about 19,000 feet. Hikers and climbers often prefer to ascend during the morning and avoid the Rocky Mountain high country on summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common and can develop suddenly with dangerous lightning, hail and plummeting temperatures.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pentagon hotline linked to DC airport 'inoperable' since 2022
A hotline supposed to connect the Pentagon with local air traffic controllers in Washington DC has been "inoperable" since 2022, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official has testified. At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, FAA officials said they only learned of the problem this month after controllers at Ronald Reagan national airport had to wave off two flights attempting to land because of a nearby US Army helicopter. That incident came just a week after a nearby army aviation unit said it would resume training flights. Those flights were paused following a January crash between a military helicopter and passenger plane at the airport that left 67 dead. Deputy air traffic control head Franklin McIntosh told senators that the hotline was operated by the defence department and that his agency had been unaware of any problems. It is believed to have been functioning properly before March 2022. "We're insisting that line be fixed before we resume any operations out of the Pentagon," Mr McIntosh added. Additionally, he said that, after the aborted landing incident, officials mulled mandating that military flights in the area needed to be cleared by the FAA before taking off. Before that could take place, the commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion - which ferries senior Pentagon officials around Washington DC - announced on 5 May that the unit was again pausing flights. The 29 January midair crash starkly highlighted concerns about coordination in the congested skies near Washington. All 64 people aboard the American Airlines-operated plane died, as well as three crew members of Blackhawk Helicopter which had taken off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia on a training mission. In the more recent incidents earlier this month, two aircraft from Delta and Republic Airways were told by air traffic controllers to perform "go-arounds" because of an approaching Army helicopter, similar to the one that had been involved in the crash. The FAA, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the recent near-misses. The NTSB had previously faulted the FAA for failing to take action despite 85 close calls near Reagan airport in the three-years before the January crash. Between 2011 and 2024, planes received alerts to take evasive actions at a rate of about one per week, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said in March. The FAA is also carrying out a review of helicopter traffic at high-risk airports around the country, including Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas. 'Woah that was close': Near-miss warning signs ahead of DC plane crash Investigators call for ban on some helicopter flights near DC airport Teenage skaters, a young pilot and a professor - the victims of DC plane crash
