DCA - American Airlines passenger plane collides with Blackhawk over the Potomac River, all 67 on both dead, 29 Jan 2025 #2

[MassGuy]

WASHINGTON - A small aircraft has crashed in the Potomac River near the vicinity of Reagan National Airport, according to officials.

Fireboats are currently on the scene as the response team works to manage the situation, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services reported.

The details of the crash, including the cause and whether anyone was aboard, have not yet been confirmed. Emergency teams are actively engaged in rescue and recovery operations.

LIVE: DC plane crash near Reagan National Airport | FOX 5 DC

A multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River after a small American Airlines aircraft collided with an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport, authorities confirmed.

www.fox5dc.com

Thread #1

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

This is a very difficult thread to moderate due to POTUS having spoken out without the investigation being completed. As POTUS, he's allowed to say whatever he pleases when he pleases, but please do NOT politicize this thread based on his comments and do not introduce DEI into this discussion.

Until the investigation is complete, nobody knows for sure what is/was involved, so don't introduce politics (which does nothing but cause division and dissension in a discussion).

 

[MadMcGoo]

Please continue the discussion here.

 

[dotr]

Crash wreckage moved to airport hangar after DCA plane, helicopter collision

The NTSB continues to examine the wreckage from last week's mid-air collision near DCA.

www.wusa9.com

Feb 7, 2025
The NTSB continues to examine the wreckage from last week's mid-air collision near DCA.

 

[iamshadow21]

As figure skating honors victims, it also readies its youth for ‘a lifelong process’

As communities grieve and offer prayers for those killed in the crash, there’s an entire generation of young skaters trying to sort it out.

www.nytimes.com

 

[?!?]

Only 28?

28 agencies were authorized to fly helicopters near Reagan Airport before deadly crash

The Army was one of 28 government agencies authorized to fly helicopters near DCA before last week's midair collision that killed 67.

wjla.com

 

[PayrollNerd]

Crash wreckage moved to airport hangar after DCA plane, helicopter collision

The NTSB continues to examine the wreckage from last week's mid-air collision near DCA.

www.wusa9.com

Feb 7, 2025
The NTSB continues to examine the wreckage from last week's mid-air collision near DCA.

I cannot imagine the mental and emotional fatigue of those charged with evaluating the pieces of this machine and what they may find. It has to be traumatizing each and every day and will go on for months.

 

[Dotta]

"Black Hawk crew ​

was likely wearing night-vision goggles ​

at time of DC plane crash that killed 67.​

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on Thursday that the crew were 'likely' adhering to the expected safety guidelines for the goggles.

'We do believe, given the mission and given what we've heard or not heard on the CVR [cockpit voice recorder] that they were wearing night-vision goggles,' Jennifer Homendy said.

She explained that if the crew members were not wearing goggles, policy required them to state they were flying unaided -
which did not appear to be the case."

DC plane crash investigators unlock major piece of mystery

The National Transportation Safety Board made a major revelation about the crew onboard a Black Hawk helicopter that collided into a passenger plane.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[SouthAussie]

On Saturday ...

NOAA was set to fly a low-altitude TopoBathy lidar flight overnight, officials said. The technology uses a green laser to scan the river floor and help investigators map out its layout.
The scan was scheduled from 2 to 5 a.m. Saturday, the NTSB said.

.... investigators have recovered most of the debris from the wreckage and worked Saturday to find what might remain on the river floor.

..... some parts were still unaccounted for. That included the right engine and tail rotor, the NTSB said on Thursday.

They will examine cockpit switch positions and instrument readings. The NTSB said further inspection of the helicopter would help determine details under intense national scrutiny like the altitude it was flying at.

Washington DC plane crash disaster happened 10 days ago: What to know

Investigators have recovered most of the airplane and helicopter from the Potomac River, but continued searching for objects on the river floor.

www.usatoday.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Well, they did find more pieces at the bottom of the river after Saturday's TopoBathy lidar survey. The NTSB are putting updates on their website as they happen.


Additional larger pieces of wreckage identified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration TopoBathy lidar survey were recovered by the crane and are being offloaded and brought to a secure location for documentation.

NTSB investigators continued to document the helicopter wreckage. Several components were removed from the wreckage and arrangements are being made for detailed follow up examination of these items.

DCA25MA108.aspx

www.ntsb.gov

 

[Tricia]

Websleuths will be off-line temporarily on Friday, Feb. 14th. For more info CLICK HERE

 

[Joe Friday]

Either way, the helicopter was flying at least 100 feet above the 200 foot altitude limit of the helicopter route they were flying on. Had the helicopter stayed below 200 feet MSL there would have been a 100 foot separation between the CRJ and the helicopter and the crash would not have happened.

JMO

One helicopter pilot thought they were at 400 feet and the other thought they were at 300 feet. The NTSB is not prepared to say exactly how high the helicopter was at impact, the NTSB said. DC plane crash: New details emerge from NTSB investigation

 

[Chimera]

We still do not know why the helicopter was flying so much higher than they should have been ?
I don't think the control tower was at fault.
But there may have been miscommunications somewhere.
Imo.

 

[Dotta]

Fatal error from air traffic control may have led to Black Hawk crash

Investigators believe the Army helicopter crew involved in the midair collision near Washington, DC may have had inaccurate altitude readings and missed key air traffic control directions.

www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[Chimera]

Fatal error from air traffic control may have led to Black Hawk crash

Investigators believe the Army helicopter crew involved in the midair collision near Washington, DC may have had inaccurate altitude readings and missed key air traffic control directions.

www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

Yes, thanks for linking that; I've read the article as well.

Lately it seems I've been sourcing the Daily Mail more for pics than content, as they're sometimes inaccurate in their reporting ?
The article doesn't appear to give concrete evidence that it was the control tower at fault.
Mostly speculation.
I've read other theories elsewhere.
As I understand, though, the investigation is still ongoing ?
So maybe it's possible.
Omo.

 

[vls12345]

Flags flying at half-staff in memory of Gwinnett soldier killed in DC midair collision

Gov. Kemp issued the executive order for flags at Georgia State Capitol and other state buildings.

www.wsbtv.com

Flags are flying at half-staff at the Georgia State Capitol on Monday in memory of an Army soldier who died in the Washington, D.C. mid-air collision.

Gov. Brian Kemp issued the executive order for Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara who “paid the ultimate sacrifice during a routine training mission,” according to the order.

 

[vls12345]

From Saturday, Feb. 15:

American Airlines pilot from GA killed in D.C. plane crash laid to rest

Sam Lilley, who was recently engaged, was serving as First Officer on the American Airlines flight when it crashed.

www.wsbtv.com

Sam Lilley, the American Airlines pilot on board a plane that collided with a military helicopter last month, is being laid to rest on Saturday.

A memorial service is being held in the Fine Arts Hall of the Georgia Southern Armstrong campus in Savannah.

 

[Chimera]

All of those beautiful lives snuffed out.
Wanted to add that the relatives of the victims deserve a full accounting, so I pray they will know exactly how this happened.
My guess is that there was a perfect storm of miscommunication ?
Omo.

 

[SouthAussie]

Important crash news (from 3 days ago) is that they are finding something wrong with the altimeter readings in the helicopter. It sounds as if they can hear the crew discussing them.
And that the crew may not have heard the "go behind" instruction because the pilot may have pushed the talk switch on the radio at the exact same moment that the ATC transmission was sent.

(From their preliminary investigations)


The helicopter crew may have had bad information on the altitude from their altimeter, as the pilots had differing altitudes in the seconds before the crash, the NTSB said.

The transmission from the tower that instructed the helicopter to go behind the plane may not have been heard by the crew because the pilot may have keyed her radio at the same second and stepped on the transmission from ATC, the NTSB added.

DC plane crash: New details emerge from NTSB investigation

The NTSB gave an update Friday on the devastating crash in Washington, D.C., between an American Airlines plane and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

abcnews.go.com

 

[DS2021]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/all-67-victims-positively-identified-washington-helicopter-plane-collision-2025-02-05/

Idk why a comprehensive lisr of victims hasnt been released yet.