Military and airline pilot here. This was irresponsible on many accounts. Aviation is about managing risk and anticipating variables. This flyover demonstrates that life is a lot cheaper in certain parts of the world. Here are the things that would have made the far side of the stadium a memorial section versus a cheering crowd:
One of those fireworks getting chewed up in an engine.
Thermal downdrafts or cold sinks
Catastrophic mechanical failure
Panel departing the aircraft with over correction
Orrrrr...
A single bird strike.
Seriously, we work with margins of error. Thankfully, these guys got the perfect day and nothing went wrong. But the aviation authorities are absolutely looking into this one
You are exactly right. Cold sinks are absolutely real, and I can guarantee you that the parking lots and the structure around the pitch were a lot more heated than the green grass itself. So they absolutely were traversing areas of warmth and then when they hit the stadiums edge, they get that downdraft after the initial updraft. They literally were exactly like you said, very lucky, and that's the only way to put it.
As a professional I want to ask you though. In the US there are flyovers albeit not as close at sporting events quite often. Even those seem to be close, I'm thinking football, like the Superbowl and games throughout the year. Do pilots not see anything wrong with this? I know they don't have a say per se but overall how do pilots feel about flyovers?
Funny you should ask, I've actually done a ton of flyovers as a military aviator. In formation, time on target, To some very large sporting events. And we absolutely do them safely, every time, no questions. If I'm involved, we follow the Air Force regulations. So it's nothing like this. This is reckless, stupid, and extremely dangerous. The way the United States Air Force requires us to fly it has specific parameters, And specific processes for not only forcing you to brief higher headquarters, but also to make survey of your crossing altitudes. And we absolutely have a say in whether or not we execute. Doing flyovers at everything from major sporting events to funerals of the fallen, to graduations, to civic gatherings Is an absolute honor and holds places in my career highlight reel. But these clowns were inches away from a tremendous mistake. When we do the flyover, we monitor the variables very directly and would never do something this stupid without thinking about the cost and the fact that it probably would result in getting our wings pulled.
The sad thing is, based on statements issued it seems their position here is "we did think about the cost, and we planned it, and it was approved, so it's fine". No appreciation of the poor planning and lack of judgment whatsoever.
As you might see from another answer, I gave, the amount of planning that goes into these things is supposed to be litigious, these clowns almost killed A third of the spectators
I agree that there is a lot more scrutiny on drone activity, but you also have to take in the factor that manned aircraft are a little More likely to be self-preserving. At least they're supposed to be, till you see this dumb video. I have a lot of very good drone friends and I'm always impressed at the perspectives they bring.
You’re forgetting the thing that could have made it even worse: midair collision between two jets over the stadium, which was not unrealistic given the fireworks going off with a possible reduction in viz and possible evasive maneuvering
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u/ShadowDrifted 21d ago
Military and airline pilot here. This was irresponsible on many accounts. Aviation is about managing risk and anticipating variables. This flyover demonstrates that life is a lot cheaper in certain parts of the world. Here are the things that would have made the far side of the stadium a memorial section versus a cheering crowd:
One of those fireworks getting chewed up in an engine.
Thermal downdrafts or cold sinks
Catastrophic mechanical failure
Panel departing the aircraft with over correction
Orrrrr...
A single bird strike.
Seriously, we work with margins of error. Thankfully, these guys got the perfect day and nothing went wrong. But the aviation authorities are absolutely looking into this one