News Helicopters Collide, Killing Four

[JFox1]

KTVK and KNXV news helicopters filming a police chase in Phoenix, AZ, collided in mid air, killing the pilot and a photographer in each one

. No one on the ground was hurt.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/07/27...rss_topstories

 

[Andre]

It is very sad that our voyeurism creates a demand for such coverage. The content of a police chase is not really news - such things appeal to us for less than honourable reasons. Same deal with TV shows like "Cops". Its all about voyeurism, there is nothing useful to be learned.

And I will freely admit that I understand the appeal of such material. I now simply exercize my flicker if such material comes on. I feel better for it.

 

[KenH]

I watched the tape of this. It was a terrible tragedy.

In the future in such instances I think that only one news helicopter should be allowed in the air, alternating between stations, and it can provide the feed to all of the other stations.

 

[TomVols]

The criminal is likely going to be charged in the deaths / injuries to the reporters. That's overboard. It wasn't his fault it happened.

 

[just-want-peace]

It wasn't his fault it happened.

Not directly, but most certainly indirectly.

That's overboard.

Respectfully disagree here, as had he not been breaking the law, the incident would have never occured. 'Course the degree of manslaughter charged may change my mind on this point, & when that's decided I may re-evaluate my stance.

I DO however think he should be held accountable to some degree for the tragedy since w/o his indiscretions it would not have happened.

Something we should ALL keep in mind though - We are free to choose our actions, but we are NOT free to choose the consequences of our actions! (No man is an island etc)

 

[KenH]

Respectfully disagree here, as had he not been breaking the law, the incident would have never occured.

So if you are arrested and have to stand trial and a juror or a judge is killed in a car accident on the way to the courthouse would you consider yourself responsible for that person's death?

 

[carpro]

The criminal is likely going to be charged in the deaths / injuries to the reporters. That's overboard. It wasn't his fault it happened.

Absolutely.

An indication of the times. Never accept responsibility for anything bad if there's someone else to blame.

This accident is the fault of the pilots involved.

 

[just-want-peace]

So if you are arrested and have to stand trial and a juror or a judge is killed in a car accident on the way to the courthouse would you consider yourself responsible for that person's death?

OK, point made! I'll concede; from a legal standpoint!

However I would feel morally responsible if some illegal, unethical, or just plain stoopid action of mine caused anothers tragedy!

Our actions can have enough, totally unintended, negative connotation when we're being as Christ-like as possible, so I would feel extreme guilt over something that fit the above categories that caused grief to another.

 

[TomVols]

Ken is right and so is Carpro. There is no legal culpability here. Morally? Okay, maybe, although that's still murky. I think the news director who sent these pilots into "harm's way" are just as morally culpable and maybe those of us who glue ourselves to the set are morally responsible, too. At the end of the day, accidents happen and we don't have to blame someone. They're just accidents. I don't mean to demean the pilots or the loss suffered by their friends and families. But let's not demean it further by blaming someone just because he's there.

 

[kubel]

IMO, if it were cops that were killed while chasing the guy, he would be responsible in some way for their deaths, since the criminal would have an obligation to stop at the request of the police, but did not, forcing the police into an obligation to stop the criminal.

But the pilots and cameramen onboard those choppers weren't involved in the pursuit in any way- they were merely observers. Maybe I'm making no sense, but I don't think this guy should be charged for their deaths.