Crash Warning as Report into DC Disaster at Reagan Airport Is Released > 자유게시판

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Federal investigators have raised concerns of a potential for another fatal aircraft crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair collision earlier this year killed 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board offered an update on their investigation into the reason for the disaster which happened on January 29 in Washington.

An American Airlines jetliner and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided in midair over the Potomac River, killing everybody on board both aircrafts.

As part of an initial report launched on Tuesday, investigators raised concerns of more collisions including helicopters at the airport.

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy stated: 'We stay worried about the substantial capacity for future mid-air collision at DCA.'

Her concerns revolve around Transport Secretary Sean Duffy transferring to limit helicopter traffic around the area, however that is set to cease at the end of the month.

When cops, medical or presidential transport helicopters need to use the space civilian airplanes are stopped from being in the very same area.

Homendy said the NTSB is now suggesting that the FAA find a 'long-term option' for alternate paths for helicopters when two of the airport's runways remain in use.

Emergency systems respond after a traveler aircraft hit a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia

Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) Jennifer Homendy talks to reporters about the 29 January mid-air collision

It was also exposed on Tuesday that there was warning check in the lead up to the fatal disaster.

Those probing the crash went through 944,179 operations in between October 2021 and December 2024.

It was uncovered that 15,214 'near-miss events' of aircrafts getting signals about helicopters remaining in close distance between October 2021 and December 2024.

The NTSB also stated that there were 85 cases where 2 airplane where laterally split by less than 1,500 feet, and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet.

Homendy included: 'That data from October 2021 through December 2024, (the FAA) might have utilized that details whenever to identify that we have a pattern here and a problem here, and looked at that route; that didn't take place, which is why we're acting today. But regrettably, individuals lost lives, and liked ones are grieving.'

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy knocked these findings at a later interview on Tuesday.

Duffy stated: 'I think the question is when this information can be found in how did the FAA not understand. How did they not study the data to state "hi, this is a hot area, we are having near misses out on and if we don't change our methods we are gon na lose lives".'

He added: 'That wasn't done, perhaps there was a concentrate on something other than security.'

Duffy would later added when questioned by a press reporter about the near misses out on that the data had 'p *** ed him off'.

Pictured: Parts of the wreckage seen sitting in the Potomac River after Flight 5342 collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, killing 67 individuals

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Investigators think that the helicopter included in the crash might have had incorrect elevation readings in the minutes before the crash.

The collision likely took place at an elevation just under 300 feet, as the airplane descended toward the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limit for that place.

On Tuesday American Airlines invited the report by the NTSB, saying: 'We're grateful for the National Transportation Safety Board's urgent safety suggestions to limit helicopter traffic near DCA and for its extensive investigation.

'We will continue to coordinate carefully with PSA Airlines as it works together as an investigative celebration member.'

The helicopter pilots might have also missed out on part of another interaction, when the tower said the jet was turning towards a various runway, Homendy said last month.

The helicopter was on a 'check' flight that night where the pilot was going through an annual test and a test on using night vision safety glasses, Homendy said.

Investigators believe the team was wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight.

The Army has stated the Black Hawk crew was highly experienced, and accustomed to the crowded skies around the nation ´ s capital.

At the time of the crash, a single air traffic controller was concurrently keeping an eye on both the helicopter and plane traffic.

Those tasks are generally managed between two individuals from 10am until 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New York Times.

Those tasks are typically managed in between 2 people from 10am up until 9:30 pm, according to the report.

Surveillance footage drawn from inside the airport captured the minute the 2 clashed in midair

At the time of the crash, a single air traffic controller was at the same time monitoring both the helicopter and aircraft traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30 pm the responsibilities are usually combined and delegated one person as the airport sees less traffic later in the night.

A manager supposedly chose to integrate those duties before the set up cutoff time however, and allowed one air traffic controller to leave work early.

The FAA report stated that staffing setup 'was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic'.

Reagan National has been understaffed for many years, with just 19 completely licensed controllers since September 2023 - well listed below the target of 30 - according to the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan sent to Congress.

The situation appeared to have enhanced ever since, as a source informed CNN the Reagan National control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled.

Chronic understaffing at air traffic control towers is nothing brand-new, with popular causes consisting of high turnover and budget plan cuts.

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In order to fill the spaces, controllers are often asked to work 10-hour days, six days a week.

After the release of the report, previous Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation Mary Schiavo deemed the findings as 'uncommon'.

She said: 'This NTSB action is extremely uncommon. The release of an emergency situation recommendation asking for the FAA take instant action, before the conclusion of the NTSB examination is uncommon.'

The two airplane had collided in a big fireball that showed up on of vehicles driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

Less than a month later on, on February 17, a Delta traveler aircraft crashed-landed upside down in disorderly scenes at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.

Miraculously, everyone on board endured after being suspended upside-down by their seatbelts for several minutes up until they tentatively began leaving.

The plane had been heading to Toronto from Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport with 76 guests and four team members on board.

Some 21 individuals were required to the health center for treatment to small injuries, and Delta has offered each person a no-strings $30,000 payout in settlement.

And the aircraft carnage is continuous - on Sunday, yet another jet crash-landed, this time in a parking area of a suburban Pennsylvania retirement community.

Dramatic video footage revealed the Beechcraft A36TC appear in flames in the parking area of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five individuals were hurried to health center.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency cars hurried to the scene in Lancaster County as flames swallowed up the plane and neighboring vehicles.

The aircraft took off as set up on Sunday afternoon, but quickly requested to land back on the tarmac since its door had actually opened.

American Airlines