Oh boy…if you’ve ever flown into Reagan on the River Visual approach, you know it’s pretty sporty. Due to proximity to restricted airspace, they essentially follow the Potomac as base leg until a sharp right turn final just past the bridges. If you ever fly into Reagan, take a left side window seat if the weather is supposed to be nice.
I’ve nerded out on those bridges before, just watching arrivals for a bit on my way to mandatory Changing of the Guard at Arlington National.
Often you’ll see Blackhawks or police helicopters at low level, crossing the river into the city, and have wondered what the separation rules are around Roosevelt Island…you’ve got crews who are probably laser focused on not busting the airspace, descending, about to turn final while low, slow, dark helicopters cross perpendicular below you. If that’s what happened here, awful but sorta surprised it hasn’t happened already.
edit: didn’t see replies above while typing that up