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

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Federal investigators have actually raised concerns of a capacity for another lethal airplane crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair accident earlier this year eliminated 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board provided an update on their investigation into the cause of the catastrophe which took place on January 29 in Washington.

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

As part of a preliminary report launched on Tuesday, investigators raised issues of more collisions involving helicopters at the airport.

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

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

When police, medical or presidential transport helicopters must utilize the space civilian aircrafts are stopped from being in the exact same area.

Homendy stated the NTSB is now suggesting that the FAA discover a 'permanent option' for alternate routes for helicopters when 2 of the airport's runways remain in usage.

Emergency systems react after a guest airplane clashed with 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 speaks with reporters about the 29 January mid-air crash

It was also revealed on Tuesday that there was cautioning indications in the lead up to the fatal disaster.

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

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

The NTSB likewise stated that there were 85 cases where two 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) could have used that details at any time to figure out that we have a trend here and an issue here, and took a look at that route; that didn't take place, which is why we're doing something about it today. But sadly, individuals lost lives, and loved ones are grieving.'

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

Duffy stated: 'I believe the question is when this data can be found in how did the FAA not know. How did they not study the data to say "hey, this is a hot area, we are having near misses and if we do not alter our methods we are gon na lose lives".'

He added: 'That wasn't done, perhaps there was a focus on something aside from security.'

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

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

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Investigators believe that the helicopter associated with the crash might have had inaccurate altitude readings in the minutes before the crash.

The accident most likely occurred at an altitude simply under 300 feet, as the plane came down towards the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limitation for that location.

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

'We will continue to collaborate carefully with PSA Airlines as it complies as an investigative party member.'

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

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

Investigators think the team was using night vision safety glasses throughout the flight.

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

At the time of the accident, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously keeping an eye on both the helicopter and airplane traffic.

Those jobs are typically dealt with in between two people from 10am till 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New york city Times.

Those jobs are typically dealt with between two individuals from 10am up until 9:30 pm, according to the report.

Surveillance footage drawn from inside the airport recorded the moment the 2 collided in midair

At the time of the collision, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously monitoring both the helicopter and plane traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30 pm the duties are typically combined and left to one person as the airport sees less traffic later in the night.

A supervisor supposedly decided to combine those duties before the scheduled cutoff time nevertheless, and enabled one air traffic controller to leave work early.

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

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

The circumstance appeared to have enhanced considering that then, as a source told CNN the Reagan National control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled.

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

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

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

She stated: 'This NTSB action is extremely unusual. The release of an emergency recommendation asking for the FAA take immediate action, before the conclusion of the NTSB examination is unusual.'

The 2 airplane had actually clashed in a huge fireball that was noticeable on dashcams of automobiles driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

Less than a month later on, on February 17, a Delta guest plane crashed-landed upside down in chaotic scenes at International Airport in Canada.

Miraculously, everyone on board endured after being suspended upside-down by their seat belts for several minutes till they tentatively began leaving.

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

Some 21 individuals were required to the hospital for treatment to minor injuries, and Delta has used each individual a no-strings $30,000 payment in compensation.

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

Dramatic video footage revealed the Beechcraft A36TC appear in flames in the car park of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five people were rushed to health center.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency situation lorries rushed to the scene in Lancaster County as flames engulfed the plane and nearby automobiles.

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

American Airlines