2025 has started off on a sombre note for aviation. It has barely been hours since we saw a plane at Busan airport catch fire. Last night, an AA regional jet (American Eagle Flight 5342) collided mid air US Army Black Army Helicopter. The collision took place at around 9 PM as the plane was about to land on Runway 33. Unfortunately, both aircraft crashed into Potomac river upon impact.
AA flight collides with US Army Chopper
The AA flight had 60 passengers on board and 4 crew members. The US Army chopper had 3 soldiers on board. The AA flight was en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington’s Ronald Reagan airport, where the accident occurred. AA’s CEO put out a video statement about the incident.
Authorities identified the two aircraft that collided. One was Canadian Regional Air Jet 700. The other was a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Over 300 first responders are currently involved in rescue operations at this hour and the situation remains fluid. Unfortunately, authorities fear that multiple casualties may have already occurred. Moreover, rain and cold weather is bound to make their rescue operations only tougher.
With regards to the investigation into the incident, CNN reports that several aviation experts are already asking why the Black Hawk chopper did not maintain ‘visual separation’ from the AA flight.
Experts from around the world weighing in on Wednesday’s aircraft collision are trying to make sense of how DC’s sophisticated airspace system led to the evening tragedy.
“It’s very clear, looking at the flight paths of the aircraft and the radio transmissions, that the Black Hawk was asked to maintain visual separation from Flight 5342 for some reason –– and we don’t know that reason,” Tony Stanton from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority told CNN’s Omar Jimenez.
“That’s one of the areas that I would be interested in examining as an investigator. What caused the Black Hawk crew not to comply with the clearance they were provided?”
“So in this circumstance, you would have had the Black Hawk talking to the tower on one frequency, and you would have had Flight 5342 talking to the tower on another frequency,” he said, adding that the crash may have resulted in “a barrier of situational awareness between the pilots.
Out of the 60 passengers on board, was also a contingent of US and Russian figure skaters, in addition to coaches and crew, as they were returning from a development camp.
The Pundit’s Mantra
At the moment, first responders are trying their best to make better of a horrible situation at hand. Unfortunately, the cold weather and rain is bound to make their rescue efforts only tougher. As per CBS news this morning, authorities have already confirmed 19 casualties. CBS posted the update at 2:50 AM Eastern Time citing law enforcement sources.
The FAA and NTSB have launched an investigation into the cause of the deadly collision.DC Mayor Muriel Bowser will hold a press conference this morning at 7.30 AM.
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Nice report Pundit. Sad to see that by this afternoon they have confirmed that all involved have died in the crash.
There will be much investigating before the full story is understood.