Natalie Kitroweth

Hmm. So potentially these pilots on the helicopter had visibility issues.

Hmm. So potentially these pilots on the helicopter had visibility issues.

Oh, wow. So maybe they weren't even supposed to be there in the first place. But what about the air traffic controller? I mean, isn't this the person who is literally supposed to be the eyes on the sky?

Oh, wow. So maybe they weren't even supposed to be there in the first place. But what about the air traffic controller? I mean, isn't this the person who is literally supposed to be the eyes on the sky?

In other words, the air traffic controller intervened, but he didn't do so in a proactive or aggressive enough way given the conditions, given what was happening. Exactly. And are there any theories about why that didn't happen in this case? No.

In other words, the air traffic controller intervened, but he didn't do so in a proactive or aggressive enough way given the conditions, given what was happening. Exactly. And are there any theories about why that didn't happen in this case? No.

You're saying you have one air traffic controller who's assigned essentially to two really important tasks here. They're monitoring not just the planes, but also the helicopters.

You're saying you have one air traffic controller who's assigned essentially to two really important tasks here. They're monitoring not just the planes, but also the helicopters.

Emily, it certainly sounds like the idea of one air traffic controller with two really big jobs in a really busy airspace could have been a factor here. I mean, could that explain a lot of what happened here?

Emily, it certainly sounds like the idea of one air traffic controller with two really big jobs in a really busy airspace could have been a factor here. I mean, could that explain a lot of what happened here?

We'll be right back. Emily, you said there have been growing holes in the system of aviation safety that made a disaster like what we saw on Wednesday possible, maybe even foreseeable. I know this is something you and our colleague Sydney Ember have reported on in the past. Remind us of what you found.

We'll be right back. Emily, you said there have been growing holes in the system of aviation safety that made a disaster like what we saw on Wednesday possible, maybe even foreseeable. I know this is something you and our colleague Sydney Ember have reported on in the past. Remind us of what you found.

And just explain that. What was the reason for that?

And just explain that. What was the reason for that?

And Emily, after your investigation came out, did anything change? Did the system get better?

And Emily, after your investigation came out, did anything change? Did the system get better?

Wow.

Wow.

Wow. I genuinely just got chills.

Wow. I genuinely just got chills.