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

[steeltowngirl]

Figure skater was turned away at the gate​

Jon Maravilla, a US figure skater, said he arrived at the airport in Wichita to board Flight 5342 but was turned away at the gate because his dog was too big.

“The agent at the check-in desk told me that my dog was too big for the carrier even though it was our return flight,” Maravilla told RIA Novosti. “So we decided to go by car.” Wichita is about 1,250 miles from Washington DC.

Trump blames Obama and Biden for plane crash — as it happened

President condemns predecessors in press conference while preliminary report finds that air traffic control was understaffed

www.thetimes.com

 

[Dotta]

"Young figure skater saved from doomed flight
because his dog was too big to board.

After Jon Maravilla was told he couldn't bring his dog onboard,
he decided to take a car instead.

The sport's national governing body,
US Figure Skating, confirmed that
'several members of our skating community' were on the flight'.

'These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp
held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,'
they said in a statement.

'We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy
and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available'."

RIP to the victims

Figure skater clears up claims he was denied boarding on doomed flight

A Russian media outlet originally reported that Maravilla was set to be among the passengers on board the fateful American Airlines flight before he was barred due to the size of his dog.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[sds71]

Defense Secretary Hegseth says the Black Hawk helicopter was on an "annual proficiency training flight," using night-vision goggles. It was being flown by a "fairly experienced" crew, Hegseth added.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884975259977494877

 

[Seattle1]

6 with ties to The Skating Club of Boston killed in DC plane crash

The Skating Club of Boston lost two coaches, two young skaters and their two mothers in the deadly crash of American Airlines Flight 5342 in Washington, D.C.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[iamshadow21]

As many as fourteen figure skaters feared dead.

Six on the flight were from the same club in Boston - two skaters, two coaches, two mothers.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-plane-crashes-potomac-river-collision-helicopter-reagan-n-rcna189942/rcrd71196?canonicalCard=true

 

[Deleted member 39678]

The FAA may have to consider different rules for "visual separation" at night in extremely busy airfields like Reagan National. I'm feeling that the helicopter pilot didn't have the CRJ in sight but was looking at some other light source.

Is visual separation used to reduce the workload on ATC?

JMO.

 

[justtrish]

There's a guardian graphic that shows the smooth approach of the plane and the sharp course change of the helicopter into its path.

View attachment 561484

Washington DC officials believe there are no survivors after jet carrying 64 people collided with military helicopter – latest

I am curious where runway 1 is and if the plane initially going straight before making that left turn is the normal approach for runway 1.. I see that very clear right angle turn the helicopter did a little before the crash so was that the helicopter getting out of the way of the plane as it is approaching to runway 1? It seems if the plane kept going straight it would have intersected the helicopter if the helicopter didn't make that abrupt turn.. but then the plane makes the turn toward the left and so now the helicopter is in the way again.. It's like it's trying to avoid the plane, but the plane changes course.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Visual separation may be applied when other approved separation is assured before and after the application of visual separation. To ensure that other separation will exist, consider aircraft performance, wake turbulence, closure rate, routes of flight, known weather conditions, and aircraft position. Weather conditions must allow the aircraft to remain within sight until other separation exists. Visual separation is not authorized when the lead aircraft is a super.

This FAA description of visual separation has me confused.

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap7_section_2.html

 

[Izzylizzy]

Figure skater was turned away at the gate​

Jon Maravilla, a US figure skater, said he arrived at the airport in Wichita to board Flight 5342 but was turned away at the gate because his dog was too big.

“The agent at the check-in desk told me that my dog was too big for the carrier even though it was our return flight,” Maravilla told RIA Novosti. “So we decided to go by car.” Wichita is about 1,250 miles from Washington DC.

Trump blames Obama and Biden for plane crash — as it happened

President condemns predecessors in press conference while preliminary report finds that air traffic control was understaffed

www.thetimes.com

He was told that his dog carrier was too big for a carry on.
Interesting because it was his return flight and appears that he did get his dog on board the flight to Kansas.

"What was thought to be a curse turned out to be a blessing"

'A figure skating account posts screenshots of Jon Maravilla's story recounting how he was denied boarding on a flight leaving Kansas.'

Viral Figure Skater Sets Record Straight on Missed Flight

A report claimed Jon Maravilla’s dog being too big kept him off the doomed American Airlines flight. In reality, it kept him from boarding a plane bound for Atlanta.

www.thedailybeast.com

 

[iamshadow21]

I am curious where runway 1 is and if the plane initially going straight before making that left turn is the normal approach for runway 1.. I see that very clear right angle turn the helicopter did a little before the crash so was that the helicopter getting out of the way of the plane as it is approaching to runway 1? It seems if the plane kept going straight it would have intersected the helicopter if the helicopter didn't make that abrupt turn.. but then the plane makes the turn toward the left and so now the helicopter is in the way again.. It's like it's trying to avoid the plane, but the plane changes course.

You have to realise the very different speeds involved here. The helicopter, by comparison, is slow moving, but it had every opportunity to not be in the way, it is far more manoeuvrable and can make far sharper turns. The plane could have made no evasive action at all, it was coming way too fast and had every expectation that the way was clear.

MOO

 

[Dotta]

He was told that his dog carrier was too big for a carry on.
Interesting because it was his return flight and appears that he did get his dog on board the flight to Kansas.

"What was thought to be a curse turned out to be a blessing"

'A figure skating account posts screenshots of Jon Maravilla's story recounting how he was denied boarding on a flight leaving Kansas.'

Viral Figure Skater Sets Record Straight on Missed Flight

A report claimed Jon Maravilla’s dog being too big kept him off the doomed American Airlines flight. In reality, it kept him from boarding a plane bound for Atlanta.

www.thedailybeast.com

And his name is Maravilla.
Meaning: Miracle
(Spanish)

Just saying....

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

The poor pilots of CRJ too, doing their job, cleared to land and then T-boned by a military helicopter training above the landing area of the busiest airport. That the pilots of the helicopter needed a lot of training is obvious, but - is there no other place or better time to train? RIP. Hoping - without the reason, but still - that maybe someone survives. Condolences to the relatives.

I wonder if the ATC who asked the plane to land at a different strip "forgot" that there was a helicopter in that area or thought that the helicopter could see the plane to avoid it?? IIRC, the plane was supposed to land at a different airstrip and then directed to another one at the last minute. I don't know how common this is; however, I can't help but think that this might have played a part in this tragedy.

I figured there would be no survivors. The emergency vehicles were there in 10 minutes, which seems to me to be too late. I don't see anyone even having the ability to get out of the plane. Dark, upside down, in freezing water. I don't even know if a Navy Seal could do it without wetgear and the proper equipment.

I can't stop thinking about how tragic this incident is for all involved and their families. I will continue to pray for all who are affected, including the rescue team and divers.

JMO.

 

[DS2021]

x.com

x.com

 

[Herat]

You have to realise the very different speeds involved here. The helicopter, by comparison, is slow moving, but it had every opportunity to not be in the way, it is far more manoeuvrable and can make far sharper turns. The plane could have made no evasive action at all, it was coming way too fast and had every expectation that the way was clear.

MOO

The way this is phrased implies the CRJ plane was at an excessive speed.

It was at about 121 knots, which is entirely appropriate for landing.

 

[DS2021]

Angela Yang, Sean Kay

by ZRPhoto

www.zrphoto.net

Some more pics of angela and sean.

 

[Arkay]

This accident is 7 hours old. They could be finding people ..yet they reserve those people to search for the boxes. It is why the dive team is there.

I have an in-law who is a member of the NYPD Special Operations Emergency Service Unit. They do water rescues/recoveries, particularly cold water.

I can say that absolutely no first responders in these specialized units would have swam or dived past a survivor in order to to obtain the black boxes.

These rescuers would have known early that no one survived, and finding the black boxes is imperative to know what went wrong and thereby help prevent a similar tragedy in the future.

I haven’t spoken to my relative yet so I’ll say MOO.

 

[iamshadow21]

The way this is phrased implies the CRJ plane was at an excessive speed.

It was at about 121 knots, which is entirely appropriate for landing.

In no way, you're mistaking me. All I am saying is that the speeds both craft were travelling were vastly different to each other, and it was impossible for the plane to have avoided the collision. It was the helicopter that was in the way, and it had the responsibility to not be in the path of the landing plane.

MOO

 

[Joe Friday]

The FAA may have to consider different rules for "visual separation" at night in extremely busy airfields like Reagan National. I'm feeling that the helicopter pilot didn't have the CRJ in sight but was looking at some other light source.

Is visual separation used to reduce the workload on ATC?

JMO.

From the recording of ATC communications, the tower tried to contact the the military helicopter several times, but I heard no response to the instructions given to them.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

From the recording of ATC communications, the tower tried to contact the the military helicopter several times, but I heard no response to the instructions given to them.

That's because the helicopter was transmitting on a different frequency and this recording didn't capture any of their transmissions. JMO.

 

[DS2021]

So young

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