US Plane Crash: An aviation tragedy unfolded in the skies above Washington as an American Airlines flight collided midair with a Black Hawk military helicopter, killing over 18 people. The disastrous accident was first reported by a nearby pilot who immediately alerted air traffic control after witnessing the devastating crash.
On the final approach, the American Airlines aircraft, flight 5342, collided over the Potomac River with the Army helicopter. The observation camera at the Kennedy Centre had captured the event, which featured a huge fireball lighting up the night sky as both planes were engulfed in flames.
Disturbing audio transcripts from the air traffic control tower, which later went viral, reveal the final moments before the collision. Initially, the controller asked the Army helicopter, who was identified as PAT25, if he had the CRJ—the designation of the American Airlines aircraft—in sight. The helicopter’s crew confirmed that they did have visual contact and requested “visual separation” from the plane. Moments later, the controller issued the order to “PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” without ever hearing anything back from the helicopter before the impact occurred.
Watch this video:
The pilot saw a fireball, not knowing it would lead to disaster
A nearby pilot, still in shock, relayed his firsthand experience over the radio, stating,
“I just saw a fireball, and then it was just gone.”
In the aftermath, the aviation fraternity and federal authorities are investigating the incident that brings into question the communication and decision-making in the tower. Former U.S. President Donald Trump added his two cents, while he felt frustrated with the treatment of the incident. He, like many others, felt that clearer instructions could have been given to the chopper crew and more evasive maneuvers could have been taken to avoid the helicopter crash.
Trump questions US Plane crash in Washington, says it could have been avoided
“It was a CLEAR NIGHT. The lights on the plane were blazing. Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn? Why didn’t the control tower instruct the helicopter, not ask him whether he ‘sees” the plane? ” Trump writes.
The National Transportation Safety Board, as the body responsible for such investigations, would release a preliminary report analyzing all decisions made on air traffic control, pilot action, and others. The whole aviation industry had been shocked by this tragic accident, and a renewed debate ensued on airspace safety and military-civilian coordination.
Also, see: South Korea plane crash: 179 out of 181 passengers die in country’s deadliest aviation disaster