Midair at DCA

[canadianfly]

Plane crash at KDCA.jpg (157.11 KiB) Viewed 10094 times

An accident just happened at KDCA of what appears to be a midair collision between a commuter plane and a military aircraft possibly a helicopter...
My thoughts are with the victims

[7ECA]

Reportedly a CRJ-700, operated by American Airlines as Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas. The BBC is also reporting that "the small plane came down in the Potomac River".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79d7y0l03po

[rigpiggy]

https://nypost.com/2025/01/29/us-news/s ... l-flights/


Looks like unsurvivable

[Me262]

CRJ 700 with 70ish seats is small? ok...

[Dry Guy]

All of my 4 near misses have been with a helicopter close to the runway.

[rigpiggy]

Now calling 60 dead

[cdnavater]

Now calling 60 dead

Are you saying there are 7 survivors?
There were 64 on the CRJ and 3 in the Blackhawk
As of about 5 minutes ago they are saying they have not found any survivors and by all accounts it does not look good for any!
This is a terrible tragedy and I can’t understand how this would have happened, a report showed the adsb data up to the collision for both, seems to imply transponders on both. Was the TCAS under MEL, did the crew ignore a warning or not react fast enough, I’m really at a loss here and it’s really bothering me. Please don’t take the above as speculative, these are just the questions bouncing around in my head, it’s kind of a shock and a WTF!
My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected

[maverick21]

Unfortunately, I don’t think TCAS would have helped in this case since it’s inhibited below 900 AGL. They still would have had TA only though and on live ATC it appears the helicopter was instructed to pass visually behind AA. I guess we’ll have to wait for the final report to really know what happened. Very tragic

[rookiepilot]

Wow. Condolences. Terrible accident.

[canadianfly]

The thing about the US ATC is that they tend to simplify things a lot. How could they instruct the helicopter to pass behind AA at night, the helicopter crew could've thought that the traffic in question has passed already, it's quite a busy airspace.

[rookiepilot]

The thing about the US ATC is that they tend to simplify things a lot. How could they instruct the helicopter to pass behind AA at night, the helicopter crew could've thought that the traffic in question has passed already, it's quite a busy airspace.

Visual separation at night. Not a good practice. Looking at you, SFO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiOybe-NJHk

[Me262]

Unfortunately, I don’t think TCAS would have helped in this case since it’s inhibited below 900 AGL. They still would have had TA only though and on live ATC it appears the helicopter was instructed to pass visually behind AA. I guess we’ll have to wait for the final report to really know what happened. Very tragic

Does the BH even have mode S?

[truecolours]

This report is going to read much like PSA182 (San Diego, 1978) when it comes out.

VFR is the most dangerous set of flight rules. Give me RVR1200 and OVC001 everyday vs SKC and P6.

[scdriver]

That heli must’ve been looking at the wrong aircraft when they reported it in sight twice

[digits_]

The heli was cleared to visually cross behind the CRJ but the CRJ was approaching the helicopter head on according to the radar screen?
That would be quite confusing during the day, let alone at night...


Reminded me of this Lufthansa pilot getting in a fight with ATC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rdapQfJDAM&t=81s
They're doing it right...

[prop2jet]

The ORANGE TURD that professes to know all because he is a genius has wasted no time at all politicizing this tragic event and alluding to DEI as the cause. Bloody shameful... Can't say I am surprised.

At 400 feet. TCAS is of no use. The RJ was set up for 01 and accepted change to 33. Tower inquires Military Heli if they have RJ in sight. They confirm and acknowledge to maintain visual separation. Now they are on a night training mission... were they wearing night vision goggles? This would have impeded their vision... Clear night and all. If you ask me, this will end up as one of those tragic mistakes. IF VFR, you better maintain proper visual separation. That is the responsibility of the pilot flying. A year of so from now when the report is issued we will have the answer.

[co-joe]

Sad day for the folks at Blue Streak. My condolences.

[phillyfan]

Is this a common procedure in the area? I don't know the area but I assume this is a procedure where traffic is kept over the river? Seems like allowing VFR traffic to cut across the approach at 350 ft, a mile out could only end badly.

[cdnavater]

Is this a common procedure in the area? I don't know the area but I assume this is a procedure where traffic is kept over the river? Seems like allowing VFR traffic to cut across the approach at 350 ft, a mile out could only end badly.

The procedure of approaching 01, circling for 33 is very common and from some of the details leaking out the Blackhawk may have been at the wrong altitude for the corridor, they also said they should’ve been wearing their night vision.
From my recollection of this maneuver(01, circle 33) actual and is trained in SIM, you cross the shore around 300’ or a little less.
Edited to add, the helicopter was on “route 4” which was supposed to be at 200’, they appear to have been at 350’, but honestly even 200’ over the shoreline would be a potential conflict given the PAPI would have you cross around 200ish feet. The measured distance from the shore to threshold is about .6nm

[Old fella]

On X, there is chatter #AA5342, unfortunately and predictable conspiracy theory nutbars are there. Flight crew have been identified and US elite FS group names as well. A horrific terrible tragic accident.

[genetic jack hammer]

That heli must’ve been looking at the wrong aircraft when they reported it in sight twice

A Jazz RJ-900 had just taken off RWY 01, minutes before tragedy struck. Might have seen that one.

[Dias]

I have this unusual sense of calm that the responsible parties will be identified, and fired for doing a bad job.

[rookiepilot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3gD_lnBNu0

Helicopter corridors…

[goldeneagle]

I have this unusual sense of calm that the responsible parties will be identified, and fired for doing a bad job.

The responsible parties are already dead. The tapes clearly show the helo said they had the jet in sight and would provide visual separation. Juan, the resident utube ambulance chaser around such incidents has done a pretty decent job of showing that the helo was above the corridor and in the jet's airspace on final for that runway.

But have no fear, after much investigation, they will find that there was a female controller employed there who has brown skin, and pin all the blame on her, even tho she was not on shift that evening.

[lownslow]

But have no fear, after much investigation, they will find that there was a female controller employed there

Fox is already reporting a female Blackhawk pilot so you’re not far off the mark.