Airliner collides with helicopter near Washington DC airport

Just listened to air traffic control leading up to the crash on X. The Blackhawk confirmed they had visual of the airliner, but then hit the tail of the plane. Have read several reports that Fort Belvoir VA pilots have been flying training exercises for the past week or so. It's been confirmed that the Blackhawk was from Fort Belvior. Have seen several pilots speculate that the chopper pilot was flying by sight and lost visual of the plane due to bright lights in an urban area.

There were 60 people and 4 crew on the plane and 3 soldiers in the Blackhawk. From early on, people listening to scanners reported that first responders were using the word 'recovery' instead of rescue. When you see footage of the in air explosion, it doesn't seem possible that anyone survived.
 
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AnnieA said:
Just listened to air traffic control leading up to the crash on X. The Blackhawk confirmed they had visual of the airliner, but then hit the tail of the plane. Have read several reports that Fort Belvoir VA pilots have been flying training exercises for the past week or so. It's been confirmed that the Blackhawk was from Fort Belvior. Have seen several pilots speculate that the copper pilot was flying by sight and lost visual of the plane due to bright lights in an urban area.

There were 60 people and 4 crew on the plane and 3 soldiers in the Blackhawk. From early on, people listening to scanners reported that first responders were using the word 'recovery' instead of rescue. When you see footage of the in air explosion, it doesn't seem possible that anyone survived.
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It's only speculation, but there was another aircraft in the area, and it might be possible the Helicopter pilot thought the other plane was the one the tower was referencing.

Not looking good for any survivors, but must keep hoping.
 

More than 60 dead in Washington after jet hits helicopter and crashes into the river.
  • 64 people were aboard passenger jet, three on U.S. Army helicopter
  • Likely to be deadliest U.S. air crash since 2001
  • Officials say no survivors
  • Trump faults government diversity efforts
  • Passengers included U.S. and Russian figure skaters
More than 60 people were dead after an American Airlines regional passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport.
"At this point we do not believe there were any survivors," District of Columbia fire chief, John Donnelly said, at a Thursday press conference.
 
I'm very surprised to find out that the Army trains their pilots around commercial airports.

The helicopter was warned just before it happened: “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” an air-traffic controller asked the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, requesting it keep a lookout for an American Airlines Bombardier jet. “PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” he added, using aviation shorthand to refer to a Canadair Regional Jet.

What were they doing?
 
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I know nothing about flights but I heard on a network news show this AM that helicopters fly in that area very, very frequently including from the Pentagon. They fly officials around from place to place.

When my brother was station at Andrews Airforce Base (as it was called then) he said when air force one flew in or out, everything stopped.

When I hear about things like this, I wonder about the people. This morning it was stating some competitive ice skaters and relatives were on the flight. One only 13.
 
Della said:
I'm very surprised to find out that the Army trains their pilots around commercial airports.

The helicopter was warned just before it happened: “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” an air-traffic controller asked the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, requesting it keep a lookout for an American Airlines Bombardier jet. “PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” he added, using aviation shorthand to refer to a Canadair Regional Jet.

What were they doing?
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There is a helicopter flight corridor between Joint Base Bolling (air force and navy) to Fort Belvoir VA that crosses the Potomac. The helicoptor that crashed had a PAT (Priority Air Transport) call sign which means it's used to transport VIPs ...imagine they stay pretty busy in DC.

Annual training requirements include logging hours for night flying in congested airspace. Something when wrong this time. :(
 
Remy said:
I know nothing about flights but I heard on a network news show this AM that helicopters fly in that area very, very frequently including from the Pentagon. They fly officials around from place to place.

When my brother was station at Andrews Airforce Base (as it was called then) he said when air force one flew in or out, everything stopped.

When I hear about things like this, I wonder about the people. This morning it was stating some competitive ice skaters and relatives were on the flight. One only 13.
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AnnieA said:
There is a helicopter flight corridor between Joint Base Bolling (air force and navy) to Fort Belvoir VA that crosses the Potomac. The helicoptor that crashed had a PAT (Priority Air Transport) call sign which means it's used to transport VIPs ...imagine they stay pretty busy in DC.

Annual training requirements include logging hours for night flying in congested airspace. Something when wrong this time. :(
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Right. I heard that, too.

I just think it's a strange set up to have all these helicopter paths crossing the paths of the big passenger airlines. Surely the sky and the land around DC is big enough to have a separate area for the PATs.

Or are the "VIP's" more important than 100s of ordinary people?
 
Della said:
Right. I heard that, too.

I just think it's a strange set up to have all these helicopter paths crossing the paths of the big passenger airlines. Surely the sky and the land around DC is big enough to have a separate area for the PATs.

Or are the "VIP's" more important than 100s of ordinary people?
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It hasn’t been strange or a question of who is more important because it’s worked up til now.
 
wisenior said:
I no longer fly, but had my Private License and flew for just over 30 years.
I encourage everyone to be patient with the investigation.

In the mean time,
God rest the souls of the those who perished,
and comfort those who are left behind.
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Why? Why do we invariably get someone on a thread like this saying we need to be patient?

I'll talk about it when I'm thinking about it and since I'm not on a jury or in a position to hire or fire anyone and have absolutely no influence over anyone why the heck can't I speculate without getting a prissy reprimand!
 
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