Plane Collides With US Army Chopper - Washington DC

[rdhopkins2]

A truly shocking accident and it looks unlikely survivors will be found.

US Army chopper & American Eagle plane crashed into the Potomac River.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/horror-as-helicopter-crashes-into-plane-at-reagan-washington-national-airport-in-virginia/live-coverage/4dde6e1bc565dcb701eaf42c5fa40fed

 

[Plugger35]

There was a plane that crashed into the Potomac River in Washington DC in 1982, there were some survivors in that crash though.

 

[Connor7395]

To my understanding, the landing plane isn't at fault. The pilots on that plane were simply doing a landing that they're meant to do. The military helicopter, an aircraft that is by all means an easier craft to manoeuvre than a CRJ, requests visual separation, which is granted. Shortly before impact, the ATC asks the helicopter if it has the plane in sight and then asks him to pass behind it.

Landing planes also have the right-of-way.

With that in mind, I believe that the military helicopter failed to maintain visual separation. It was not a deliberate attack like some people claim, and it was not the result of politics like other people claim (stay away from social media if you want to have hope for humanity). It's a mid-air collision in a congested local airspace caused by a miscommunication during the night. In a few years we'll know the whole story and learn lessons.

 

[apollo_creed]

To my understanding, the landing plane isn't at fault. The pilots on that plane were simply doing a landing that they're meant to do. The military helicopter, an aircraft that is by all means an easier craft to manoeuvre than a CRJ, requests visual separation, which is granted. Shortly before impact, the ATC asks the helicopter if it has the plane in sight and then asks him to pass behind it.

Landing planes also have the right-of-way.

With that in mind, I believe that the military helicopter failed to maintain visual separation. It was not a deliberate attack like some people claim, and it was not the result of politics like other people claim (stay away from social media if you want to have hope for humanity). It's a mid-air collision in a congested local airspace caused by a miscommunication during the night. In a few years we'll know the whole story and learn lessons.

Don't think it'll take a few years in this case. They already have everything they need.

 

[rdhopkins2]

- ATC officer working more than one position (understaffed control tower) & probably fatigued too.

- Army chopper departing perpendicular to American Eagle on final approach (recipe for disaster - what wasn’t it told to use runway heading, especially at night. Also army chopper pilot on training flight will be looked into (pilots have to train mind you but what was the instructor looking at- clearly not the arriving aircraft either).

-American Eagle I don’t think are to blame here. They just didn’t see the chopper to avoid it but I believe they had followed procedures as instructed by ATC & company regulations.

In future instances airports will probably not allowed undermanned control towers and control towers to do more than one role (at least not at a large international airport). This will lead to slowing down of airport operations (increased aircraft spacing for arrivals & departures), diversions of aircraft to other airfields (with time & financial penalties for passengers & airlines) and even possible airport closure.

The holes in the Swiss cheese have aligned.
The consequences are undeniably tragic.

The catastrophic loss of life.
Changes to airport & aviation procedures.
Public liability & professional indemnity insurance price hikes (which will be passed onto future passengers.

Just a guess at some of the outcomes of the preliminary report.

It sounds like a totally preventable tragedy.