Alaska Plane Crash Kills All 8 Aboard Near Cape Newenham
Is this a moment for patience and respect or a call for hard answers on Alaska aviation safety?
Above: The seal of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27. Image credit: Al Drago/Contributor/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Eight lives were lost serving a vital mission in brutal Alaska terrain, and the right response is respect, patience and support for the families. Turning this into instant speculation would cheapen the sacrifice of professionals doing hard work for national security.
Narrative B
Condolences are not enough when a charter plane goes down near a foggy, high-terrain runway in a state with a far higher accident rate. Serious answers from the FAA and NTSB matter more than soft-focus talk about sacrifice.