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Top 5: Channel 9′s most-viewed stories online in 2022

CHARLOTTE — Channel 9 viewers viewed thousands of articles throughout a busy 2022, from personal stories surrounding COVID-19 to flight issues at Charlotte Douglas Airport, and the many local stories in between. But among the tens of millions of views on WSOCTV.com, a few stories stood out among our local community -- here are the top five stories by Channel 9 that were viewed on our website.

No. 5: Helicopter crashes in south Charlotte

In late November, two employees at WBTV were tragically killed in a helicopter crash that happened on the side of Interstate 77.

Pilot Chip Tayag and Meteorologist Jason Myers were in the station’s Robinson R44 when it crashed near Nations Ford Road. Tayag is credited with saving other lives by maneuvering the helicopter away from traffic on I-77 as it crashed, with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings calling him a hero in his eyes.

The two broadcast employees were remembered for their warm and positive spirits in the WBTV newsroom, and their loss was felt by many members of the Charlotte community.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are still investigating the cause of the crash.

No. 4: Arrest warrant issued in Mexico for friend of Shanquella Robinson

Shanquella Robinson traveled to Cabo San Lucas from Charlotte with her friends on Oct. 28. A day later, she was dead -- her friends told her family that she died of alcohol poisoning.

But an autopsy report states that Robinson died due to a “severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation,” with no mention of alcohol poisoning. After her death, a video surfaced showing a woman attacking Robinson inside a rented villa in Cabo. Robinson’s family identified the people in the video as the friends who had accompanied Robinson on the trip to Cabo.

Weeks passed with speculation about Robinson’s death as the FBI announced it was investigating. But on Nov. 23, a state prosecutor in Baja California Sur told ABC News that a friend of Robinson’s “who is the direct aggressor” is being sought by international authorities on charges of femicide.

That friend wasn’t identified, and nobody has been taken into custody as of Dec. 31.

No. 3: ‘I will die’: Unvaccinated Burke County man denied kidney transplant

A double-amputee in Burke County had a kidney that only operated at about 4%, but his decision to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine meant that he faced another battle in getting a kidney transplant.

More than 100 people offered to donate a kidney to Chad Carswell, but he was told that because of his vaccination status, he couldn’t get the transplant procedure at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Carswell told Channel 9, “I will die free. I’m not changing my mind.”

His stance garnered national attention, but he also said he would be looking at other hospitals in the Carolinas to see if they would perform the surgery.

In October, Carswell announced that he ended up getting a transplant.

No. 2: New video shows moments leading up to 2018 Walmart shooting involving DaBaby

A fight involving rapper DaBaby turned deadly in 2018, and new video obtained this year by Rolling Stone showed what led up to the altercation.

DaBaby, whose real name is Jonathan Kirk, told detectives that he assumed the teens were looking to cause trouble, but surveillance video showed Kirk hitting Henry Douglas as a fight ensued. During the fight, the other person with Douglas, 19-year-old Jaylin Craig, was seen pulling out “what appeared to be a firearm” from his waistband, according to authorities.

During the altercation, DaBaby pulled out a gun and shot Craig in his side. Craig collapsed at the other end of the aisle inside Walmart. According to DaBaby’s lawyers, prosecutors reviewed the video in 2018 and determined the rapper acted in self-defense.

No. 1: Family denied boarding on flight at Charlotte Douglas Airport, told they were on no-go list

A family of six traveling through Charlotte Douglas International Airport got a big surprise when a gate agent kicked them off a flight and told them they were banned from flying on American Airlines.

The Meyers were among many who experienced significant delays and cancellations during a busy weekend at the airport in August. They ended up booking a flight with a layover in Charlotte, and when Laney Meyer’s young daughter cried about being on four flights, the gate agent came down the jetway and kicked them off. The gate agent said they were banned and on a “no-go” list.

It didn’t take long for a representative with American Airlines to contact the family and apologize, and the family got re-booked on later flights.

Meyer said the hundreds of delays that weekend may have been a factor in how they were treated by the gate agent.


We appreciate our viewers at Channel 9 -- it’s because of you that we are privileged to share your stories, and we aim to continue serving our community through 2023 and the years to come.

BONUS ROUND: What were the top five posts on WSOC TV’s Facebook page?

No. 1: The Westminster Dog Show

No. 2: Chad Ochocinco Johnson leaves $1k tip at NC restaurant

No. 3: Albuquerque Zoo welcomes first baby gorilla since 2004

No. 4: 11-pound woolly mammoth tooth found at Iowa construction site

No. 5: 4,000 beagles rescued from Virginia breeding facility

(WATCH BELOW: New Year’s Eve parties, celebrations in Charlotte)

Andrew McMillan, wsoctv.com

Andrew McMillan is the Digital Content Manager for WSOC-TV.