Jeff Hamlin

I can’t get over the Learjet N722BD decisions. ATC warned them of moderate-to-extreme precip, said the turn to Freeport looked pretty bad/nasty, and explicitly approved deviations left and right, Freeport when able. They were still ~8–10+ minutes and tens of miles out. They made some adjustments but kept going, reported “manageable” light clear ice and moderate turbulence, then picked up precip and asked to climb. Minutes later they were in an overspeed spiral. Why not lose an hour, divert, and avoid the cell entirely? Pilot-in-command owns weather avoidance. “If there’s any doubt, there’s no doubt.” NTSB will sort the full picture, but this one is hard to square. That these nine beautiful lives are lost over a navigational mistake is nauseating. Tragic, heartbreaking, sad. Life is short, got to make the most of it, and try to do as much good as possible.