A US Airways regional jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided over Washington, DC, causing a significant accident that resulted in an emergency response and a widespread search for survivors. The incident sparked a flurry of online conspiracy theories, but aviation experts point towards a potential breakdown in communication as the likely cause.
A screen grab from a video appears to show the moment of the collision above Washington, DC. The incident occurred at approximately 9pm local time (3am GMT) when an American Airlines regional jet carrying 64 people collided with a UH-60 Black Hawk army helicopter carrying three soldiers. Wreckage from both aircraft plunged into the nearby Potomac River, complicating rescue efforts amid freezing temperatures and darkness.
Authorities have yet to confirm the number of casualties, but hundreds of rescue workers are combing through debris in a desperate search for survivors. As emergency crews worked at the crash site, Donald Trump took to social media, questioning the circumstances of the collision. “The plane was on a perfect and routine line of approach. Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down?” the US President wrote on Truth Social. In another post, he speculated: “The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing.” His comments quickly gained traction among his supporters, sparking conspiracy theories online. Some suggested the helicopter had been “hijacked and used as a weapon, a la 9/11”. Others falsely claimed that two Russian figure skaters on board the flight had been “taken out”. Additional rumours blamed the Chinese Communist Party and even former president Joe Biden’s “DEI policies”. Experts, however, have dismissed these theories as baseless. Aviation analysts say the collision was likely to have been caused by a breakdown in communication between air traffic controllers and the pilots involved. Minutes before the crash, the American Eagle flight was given permission to approach runway 33 at Reagan national airport. Radio recordings show that air traffic controllers instructed the Black Hawk helicopter, using the callsign “PAT 25”, to look out for the incoming jet. Controllers cleared the commercial aircraft — a Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) — for a visual landing. The helicopter pilots acknowledged the instruction and reported having the airliner “in sight”. The controller then told them: “Pass behind the CRJ.” CCTV footage captured a bright flash in the sky at 8.47pm local time (1.47am GMT), appearing to show the moment of impact before both aircraft burst into flames. Aviation experts believe the crash may be linked to errors in judgement or communication.: “It could be a case of mechanical failure or human error. The fact that the air traffic controller specifically told the helicopter to pass behind the CRJ suggests there was a misunderstanding.” Lavelle said concerns had been raised about staffing shortages in US air traffic control, which can put more pressure on pilots – increasing the likelihood of human error. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported a significant rise in “runway incursions” — incidents where aircraft, vehicles, or people are in unauthorised areas of the airport, increasing the likelihood of collision. 1,115 such incidents in the past year, including 183 cases where air traffic controllers’ decisions resulted in dangerously close encounters between planes. Additionally, there have been 706 cases where pilots have deviated from FAA regulations during takeoff or landing. Lavelle added that the US aviation industry was still recovering from the pandemic, which led to shortages that increases the possibility of errors. “There’s been a big operational shift in North America — there’s a shortage of air traffic controllers, and the FAA has been on a hiring spree. But training is expensive, and the system now has less experienced controllers than before.” Pilot shortages have also been a challenge. “Especially in regional aviation, there are a lot of less experienced pilots in the sky,” he added. Trump questioned why the helicopter pilots “didn’t go up or down” to avoid the collision. Experts say the complexity of visual landings at busy airports makes such manoeuvres challenging. According to Lavelle: “Air traffic control would not have given permission to cross the runway unless it was safe to do so. This suggests a breakdown in communication or understanding.” The Black Hawk helicopter pilots were making a “visual approach” — meaning they were relying on their eyesight rather than automated instruments. While airliners have powerful landing lights, these are difficult to see from the side or rear, especially at night amid the bright lights of a city. Trump’s comments that the lights on the plane were blazing may have in fact made visibility more difficult against the backdrop of the illuminated city of Washington, DC in the background.
Aviation Accident Helicopter Crash Washington DC American Airlines Black Hawk Air Traffic Control Conspiracy Theories
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