This article explores the factors surrounding the fatal crash of an American Airlines Boeing 777 and a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. Aviation experts discuss communication protocols, altitude restrictions, and the challenges of navigating busy airspace. They highlight the importance of visual scanning and adherence to air traffic control instructions.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said both aircraft had been flying standard flight patterns when the incident occurred, and there had been no breakdown in communication.“That would create some mayhem in the system,” said Brian Alexander, a former military aircraft pilot and aviation accident lawyer with Kreindler LLP.
He said air traffic control gives direction and advises on other vessels in the air while also ensuring separation between different aircraft.But with military helicopters typically flying at lower altitudes than commercial aircraft, they too have to keep watch around them.“The helicopters were essentially always and only operating under visual conditions in the corridor,” said Alexander, who has flown the same D.C. route where the crash occurred multiple times.
Even before the plane descended to 300 feet, Boeing 777 pilot Shem Malmquist said commercial airline pilots would have been starting their approach to the airport, which can change what those pilots are looking for.During descent, other than watching for potential hazards like birds or drones, pilots are focusing on landing and while they are looking out the window, they’re not going to be necessarily focusing on looking for aircraft nearby once air traffic controllers clear them to go ahead.
Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight, according to released recordings. This is why commercial pilots keep an eye on their runways, and helicopter pilots are told to keep their heads on a “swivel,” with air traffic communicating between them.Speaking to Reuters, pilot Rick Redfern cautioned that visibility can also create issues, noting he was able to use evasive maneuvers when he spotted a Coast Guard helicopter hovering above the Potomac about a decade ago during a flight.D.C.
Aviation Accident Air Traffic Control Helicopter Collision Military Flight Communication Protocols
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Investigators find black boxes after deadly Washington plane crash, continue search for answersU.S. authorities said on Thursday it was not yet clear why a regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter collided at a Washington airport, killing 67 people in the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than 20 years.
Read more »
Deadly Plane-Helicopter Crash Claims 64 Lives in WichitaA tragic crash in Wichita, Kansas, claimed the lives of all 64 people on board an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter. The victims included young figure skaters, coaches, a college student, and members of various communities.
Read more »
Fox News Host Slams Trump's 'Campaign Rally' Moment After Deadly DC Plane CrashBen Blanchet is a reporter based in New York City. His work has been featured in the New York Post, Insider and The Buffalo News' Sun newspapers. He was born and educated in Upstate New York.
Read more »
Deadly Collision: Figure Skaters, Families, and Union Members Perish in Plane and Helicopter CrashA tragic crash between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter over the Potomac River resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals, including teen figure skaters, their families, and a group of union steamfitters.
Read more »
Figure Skating Community Mourns Loss in Deadly Plane CrashA tragic plane crash involving an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., has claimed the lives of multiple individuals, including prominent Russian figure skating coaches and their son. The incident has sent shockwaves through the figure skating community, with tributes and condolences pouring in from around the world.
Read more »
D.C. plane crash: Likely no survivors after plane, helicopter collideCrews were still searching for other casualties but did not believe there were any other survivors, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.
Read more »