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

[vls12345]

https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article299417149.html

 

[Seattle1]

1/29/25

Passenger plane collides with military helicopter over Washington DC​

 

[Deleted member 39678]

I heard *unconfirmed* audio that ATC had instructed the helicopter to path *behind* the commercial airline, which had been reported as being on its final descent. That is consistent with this graphic from Wapo.com in their updates (gift link: https://wapo.st/3CuWgCT):
View attachment 561409

Did the helicopter acknowledge that ATC instruction with a confirmation that traffic was in sight?

If the helicopter wasn't sure of the airliners location it would be difficult to get behind it.

I'm trying to figure out why there wasn't proper separation between these two aircraft. JMO.

 

[vls12345]

Witness describes seeing 'white flare' at moment of plane collision

Jimmy Mazeo says he thought he saw shooting stars, adding that he didn't "think much of it" until he saw emergency services arriving.

www.bbc.com

 

[vls12345]

DC plane crash: what to know about deadly incidents since 2001

An American Airlines flight crashed into military Black Hawk helicopter late Wednesday night near Reagan National Airport. Here are the most recent fatal incidents prior to the crash

www.usatoday.com

 

[vls12345]

Washington DC officials say no survivors in jet collision with military helicopter – latest

Officials say 27 bodies recovered from plane and one from helicopter as rescue mission turns into recovery effort

www.theguardian.com

 

[whitelilac]

"Potomac ice, darkness and cold make rescue effort challenging" (from NBC, last update)​

During the PC, and included in the updates from various news sources, we keep hearing the word "rescue".
It's been about 5 hours. If only "rescues" were an option.
So very heart wrenching.

 

[Charlot123]

I'm just sick over this. Those poor people, ready to land. And the families who were to greet them.
It happens in an instant. devastating.
This is the worst January ever. The fires here, absolutely awful. Still reeling from that.
I really fear what's next. No one is immune from anything.
I feel so bad about all this loss of life, and the families left behind.

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.

 

[crhedBngr]

Heartbreaking.

JMVHO.

 

[Chimera]

It sounds like the air traffic controllers did have the ability to communicate with the helicopter.

"Moments before the crash, air traffic control audio recorded a controller asking the helicopter, "PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight," followed shortly by another pilot exclaiming, "Tower did you see that?""

Dramatic midair collision near DC captured on Kennedy Center camera

Video from EarthCam appeared to show two sets of aircraft lights converging before flames erupted over the Potomac River.

www.cbs8.com

Re-quoting this to answer @RANCH ; It sounds like the control tower was communicating with the helicopter.
Still do not understand fully how this tragedy could have occurred.
It appeared preventable.
Also am leaning towards a tragic accident and maybe that's all ?
Omo.

Rest in eternal peace to all of the precious souls lost, and my utmost condolences to their loved ones !!

 

[Chimera]

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 helicopted 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.

Bbm.
Was wondering the same.

 

[Charlot123]

It appears that it was clear VFR conditions from the video I just watched with night time conditions limiting the pilots ability to see other aircraft.

Was ATC in control of both aircraft at the time of the accident?

Well new moon provides very poor lighting. And, it is colder today.

 

[MassGuy]

Several coaches and skaters with the United States figure skating team were on the flight from Wichita, according to Team USA pair skater Luke Wang. “praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc,” Wang wrote on X Wednesday night. “among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking.” Wang told McClatchy News that several of his teammates affiliated with the National Development Team, a training program for top youth figure skaters, were on the flight. Wang and others were notified by U.S. Figure Skating via text after the crash. The U.S. Figure Skating Championship was held in Wichita from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26. Some young athletes stayed in the city until Jan. 28, for National Development Camp, an advanced training program.

Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article299414004.html#storylink=cpy

 

[IzzyBlanche]

I don't think anyone survived this.

So awful.

 

[Arkay]

Several coaches and skaters with the United States figure skating team were on the flight from Wichita, according to Team USA pair skater Luke Wang. “praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc,” Wang wrote on X Wednesday night. “among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking.” Wang told McClatchy News that several of his teammates affiliated with the National Development Team, a training program for top youth figure skaters, were on the flight. Wang and others were notified by U.S. Figure Skating via text after the crash. The U.S. Figure Skating Championship was held in Wichita from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26. Some young athletes stayed in the city until Jan. 28, for National Development Camp, an advanced training program.

Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article299414004.html#storylink=cpy

Oh, no! Young people in the prime of their lives.

It’s past 2 AM here in EST and I’ve not seen any reports of ambulances taking anyone to any hospitals.

Despite the mayor and the airport authority saying it’s still a rescue operation, no news has come of any survivors.

I didn’t really expect survivors under these conditions, but had my hopes raised a bit during the press conference.

These conditions are not survivable, and I’m sure most died on impact and never had a chance.

JMO

 

[MassGuy]

Oh, no! Young people in the prime of their lives.

It’s past 2 AM here in EST and I’ve not seen any reports of ambulances taking anyone to any hospitals.

Despite the mayor and the airport authority saying it’s still a rescue operation, no news has come of any survivors.

I didn’t really expect survivors under these conditions, but had my hopes raised a bit during the press conference.

These conditions are not survivable and I’m sure most died on impact and never had a chance.

JMO

Zero chance. I can’t imagine anyone survived the initial impact, but CNN was talking about hypothermia. They would be long dead by now from that.

 

[Chimera]

DC plane crash live updates: Army helicopter was on training mission; fatalities reported

An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, Wednesday night, prompting a multi-agency search-and-rescue operation, according to officials. The Federal Aviation...

www.yahoo.com

From the ABC affiliate :

"Over 300 responders searching D.C. river after jet, Army helicopter collide.

Black Hawk that collided with American Airlines jet was on training flight​

The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River was on a training flight at the time, according to Heather Chairez, spokesperson for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

"We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available."
Rbm.

Hoping for safety for the searchers with the cold water and the currents.
Of course they would be equipped with diving gear and the searches would have to be done in short bursts so they don't suffer from hypothermia.
Are there wetsuits for diving in icy conditions, heated or thermal & insulated ?
Idk.

Terrible job , physically and emotionally.
Imo.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

We keep hearing about the helicopter being on a training mission but I think there’s two ways to take that.
First is it was a mission involving an inexperienced pilot teaching them. How to fly a Blackhawk helicopter.
Second is readiness training. The military practices things over and over to stay ready for different scenarios.
I wonder which it was.

 

[vls12345]

2025 Potomac River mid-air collision - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Less than 30 seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter crew whether they had Flight 5342 in sight. A crew member replied that they could see the airliner, and requested "visual separation" from the plane; this was approved by the controllers. A few seconds before the collision, the air traffic controller ordered the helicopter to pass behind Flight 5342.

At 8:48 p.m. EST, Flight 5342 collided with the Black Hawk, which exploded, then crashed into the middle of the Potomac River. Flight 5342's radio transponder ceased transmitting about 2,400 ft (730 m) short of runway 33. The incident was captured by a webcam at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Another video shows a brief trail of fire. The airplane "split in half" in the river, while the helicopter crashed in the river upside down and near the crashed plane.

A pilot in an uninvolved aircraft confirmed seeing the crash to an air traffic controller, and reported seeing flares from the side of the Potomac opposite to them as they were on short final.

 

[vls12345]

Timeline of air traffic controllers issuing warnings before American Airlines plane, Black Hawk helicopter collision in DC

The plane, which took off from Wichita, Kan., with 64 people on board, was landing at Reagan National – traveling north toward Runway 33.

nypost.com