Plane collision crash near Reagan Airport

[Tabascocat]

A military Blackhawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines smaller jet just before landing. There was three airmen on the chopper and 60 passengers with four crew on the aircraft. Seeing the video, it would be a miracle for any survivors

Why was a military aircraft any where near the planes landing zone???

 

[darthseinfeld]

Thats just crazy. How does that even happen?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Last I heard 4 possible survivors. Flight took off from Wichita. Where I live!!! So the local news is all over this. Direct flight into DC could have had elected officials or DOD people with Spirit Aerosystems/Boeing presence here. News sounds pretty grim.

 

[Tabascocat]

It looks like no one survived, the four recovered seem to have come from scanner confusion. This type of accident shouldn’t happen in this day and age of technology.

 

[triplets_93]

 

[triplets_93]

Fatalities reported after Army helicopter collides with passenger jet near Reagan National Airport

The plane involved is American Eagle flight 5342, which originated from Wichita, Kansas.

https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news...tional-airport-arrivals-and-departures-halted

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

Sadly at this point, theres no way anybody survived I dont think, that water is way too cold if anyone survived the impact. Im hearing there were U.S. and Russian Olympic figure skaters on the plane. Crazy stuff smh.

 

[Runwildboys]

How do neither craft see the other with all the lights, not to mention instruments, and air traffic control???

 

[CyberB0b]

Thats just crazy. How does that even happen?

How do neither craft see the other with all the lights, not to mention instruments, and air traffic control???

The holes in the Swiss cheese lined up. Lots of factors.

• DCA is a really small airport with a ton of military and airline traffic flying in a small space. Lots of restricted airspace due to the proximity of the White House.
• TCAS (the collision avoidance system in the CRJ) is inhibited for landing. It will still call out traffic alerts, but won't issue an RA (tells you to climb or descend) when landing
• The Blackhawk pilot was likely wearing night vision goggles which makes it difficult to see
• The Blackhawk pilot was told to follow behind "the CRJ". They likely had the wrong one in sight, due to the number of aircraft in the vicinity
• The CRJ pilots probably saw the Blackhawk on TCAS and assumed he would go behind them, as instructed.
• The CRJ pilots were doing a circle to land maneuver, which requires more attention to flying, and less at monitoring instruments.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Prayers for the victims.

 

[Runwildboys]

The holes in the Swiss cheese lined up. Lots of factors.

• DCA is a really small airport with a ton of military and airline traffic flying in a small space. Lots of restricted airspace due to the proximity of the White House.
• TCAS (the collision avoidance system in the CRJ) is inhibited for landing. It will still call out traffic alerts, but won't issue an RA (tells you to climb or descend) when landing
• The Blackhawk pilot was likely wearing night vision goggles which makes it difficult to see
• The Blackhawk pilot was told to follow behind "the CRJ". They likely had the wrong one in sight, due to the number of aircraft in the vicinity
• The CRJ pilots probably saw the Blackhawk on TCAS and assumed he would go behind them, as instructed.
• The CRJ pilots were doing a circle to land maneuver, which requires more attention to flying, and less at monitoring instruments.

I don't know if true, but someone told me air traffic control tried to contact both crafts, but didn't get a response from either.

 

[CyberB0b]

I don't know if true, but someone told me air traffic control tried to contact both crafts, but didn't get a response from either.

Not true. The ATC recording is here: https://archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-Twr-Jan-30-2025-0130Z.mp3

Starts around 17:30

 

[Runwildboys]

Not true. The ATC recording is here: https://archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-Twr-Jan-30-2025-0130Z.mp3

Starts around 17:30

I had trouble understanding what they were saying, but I didn't catch the point at which the actual collision occurred. Seemed like it went directly from requesting the plane turn to asking someone else if they could assist with search and rescue.

 

[CyberB0b]

I had trouble understanding what they were saying, but I didn't catch the point at which the actual collision occurred. Seemed like it went directly from requesting the plane turn to asking someone else if they could assist with search and rescue.

You can hear ATC tell the Blackhawk to “follow the CRJ” and then it happens. ATC then immediately starts redirecting traffic. The FAA has also confirmed there was nothing out of the ordinary until the accident happened.

 

[Creeper]

Awful tragedy. I have seen a few videos on X analyzing what happened. From why I heard, it looks like the airliner was in the right place approaching the runway he was instructed to land. The helicopter was flying directly into his path, but was instructed to fly behind the jet. I assume the chopper pilot did not see the jet.

Apparently, the helicopter base is just across the river, and the flight path crosses the flight path of jets landing on that runways where the jet was attempting to land.

We'll have to wait until the investigation concludes but it appears it was pilot error.

 

[Miller]

The way the Blackhawk tracks the plane is so bizarre. Saw this morning that it’s so hard to see plane lights as they mix with the city surroundings at that level.

 

[triplets_93]

NTSB Media Briefing - PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter collision



About 30 minutes from now . .

 

[VaqueroTD]

The holes in the Swiss cheese lined up. Lots of factors.

• DCA is a really small airport with a ton of military and airline traffic flying in a small space. Lots of restricted airspace due to the proximity of the White House.
• TCAS (the collision avoidance system in the CRJ) is inhibited for landing. It will still call out traffic alerts, but won't issue an RA (tells you to climb or descend) when landing

Appreciate your insight.

Question about point 2:

Is that normal in all airports? To turn off collision alarms while landing?

 

[CyberB0b]

Appreciate your insight.

Question about point 2:

Is that normal in all airports? To turn off collision alarms while landing?

It’s a system on the aircraft. Yes, it’s normal, it’s done automatically.

 

[gtb1943]

Seems clear the Airline pilots are clear on this; at last so far.

The air traffic controller seemed to be doing his job.

Now why the military was doing night flying training near a airport to me is the big flashing neon sign.