In Video: After crash, questions about air traffic control staffing
Midair Crash Raises Questions about Staffing and Protocols at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
A preliminary FAA report suggests that a staff shortage at the Reagan Airport tower may have contributed to a midair collision between a helicopter and a Regional Jet on Wednesday night. According to sources, only one controller was handling both planes and helicopters at the time of the incident, which is acceptable under established FAA standards. However, investigators are now focusing on the critical final moments before the collision, when air traffic controllers asked the helicopter crew if they could see the Regional Jet, and received a garbled response.
Clues into What Went Wrong
The response from the helicopter pilot, which was transmitted as "aircraft in sight, aircra," has raised doubts about what actually happened in those fateful few moments. Captain Sully Sullenberger, a veteran pilot, emphasized the importance of radio communication in preventing such incidents, citing the need for planes to see each other until they were safely clear.
Reagan Airport has had its share of close calls in recent years. In March 2023, controllers ordered a United flight to abort takeoff after another plane crossed its path. In April 2024, a Southwest plane crossed a runway as a JetBlue flight was preparing to take off, and in May 2024, a controller canceled takeoff after another airliner was cleared to land on an intersecting runway.
Helicopter-Road Collision Risks and Protocols
Flying "up the river" to Runway 33 requires a high level of skill, as pilots must maintain a height of 4,000 to 5,000 feet while helicopters should fly below 2,000 feet. The runway is small, making it a challenging environment for aircraft of varying sizes and altitudes to coexist. The new Transportation Secretary downplayed the incident, stating that the flight activity was "routine" considering the presence of military aircraft and commercial planes landing at DCA.
Breaking News: Black Boxes Recovered and Under Review
In a breaking development, a source familiar with the investigation has revealed that the black boxes from the Regional Jet have been recovered and are now being reviewed at the NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C. Investigators will likely focus on whether the helicopter pilot was flying above the designated altitude, which could have put it in direct conflict with the American Eagle flight.
This developing story will continue to be updated as new information becomes available. Stay tuned for further updates on the NBC News app and social media channels.
