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

• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Federal private investigators have raised issues of a capacity for another lethal aircraft crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair accident earlier this year killed 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board gave an upgrade on their examination into the reason for the catastrophe which happened on January 29 in Washington.

An American Airlines jetliner and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided in midair over the Potomac River, killing everybody on board both airplanes.

As part of an initial report released on Tuesday, investigators raised issues of more crashes involving helicopters at the airport.

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

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

When police, medical or governmental transportation helicopters need to utilize the area civilian planes are stopped from being in the exact same location.

Homendy said the NTSB is now suggesting that the FAA find a 'irreversible solution' for alternate paths for helicopters when two of the airport's runways remain in usage.

Emergency systems respond after a guest airplane hit 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 talks to press reporters about the 29 January mid-air accident

It was likewise revealed on Tuesday that there was cautioning signs in the lead up to the deadly disaster.

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

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

The NTSB likewise said that there were 85 cases where 2 aircraft where by less than 1,500 feet, and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet.

Homendy added: 'That information from October 2021 through December 2024, (the FAA) might have used that info at any time to identify that we have a trend here and an issue here, and took a look at that route; that didn't happen, which is why we're taking action today. But regrettably, people lost lives, and enjoyed ones are grieving.'

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

Duffy said: 'I think the concern is when this data is available in how did the FAA not understand. How did they not study the information to state "hey, this is a hot area, we are having near misses out on and if we do not change our methods we are gon na lose lives".'

He included: '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 being in the Potomac River after Flight 5342 hit an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, killing 67 people

Your browser does not support iframes.

Investigators think that the helicopter associated with the crash might have had unreliable elevation readings in the minutes before the crash.

The crash most likely occurred at an elevation just under 300 feet, as the plane descended toward the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limitation for that area.

On Tuesday American Airlines welcomed the report by the NTSB, stating: 'We're grateful for the National Transportation Safety Board's immediate safety suggestions to restrict helicopter traffic near DCA and for its comprehensive examination.

'We will continue to coordinate closely with PSA Airlines as it works together as an investigative celebration member.'

The helicopter pilots might have also missed part of another interaction, when the tower said the jet was turning toward a various runway, Homendy stated last month.

The helicopter was on a 'check' flight that night where the pilot was going through an annual test and a test on utilizing night vision goggles, Homendy stated.

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

The Army has stated the Black Hawk team was highly experienced, and accustomed to the crowded skies around the country ´ s capital.

At the time of the crash, a single air traffic controller was at the same time keeping an eye on both the helicopter and aircraft traffic.

Those tasks are generally handled in between two people from 10am up until 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New york city Times.

Those tasks are typically handled between 2 individuals from 10am till 9:30 pm, according to the report.

Surveillance footage taken from inside the airport caught the minute the two collided in midair

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

After 9:30 pm the tasks are usually integrated and left to a single person as the airport sees less traffic later on in the night.

A manager apparently decided to integrate those duties before the arranged cutoff time however, and allowed one air traffic controller to leave work early.

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

Reagan National has been understaffed for several years, with just 19 completely certified controllers since September 2023 - well below the target of 30 - according to the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan sent to Congress.

The circumstance appeared to have actually enhanced ever since, as a source informed 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 new, with popular causes including high turnover and budget cuts.

EXCLUSIVE

Full list of DC plane crash victims: Four more passengers recognized after DC airport tragedy

In order to fill the spaces, controllers are regularly asked to work 10-hour days, 6 days a week.

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

She stated: 'This NTSB action is highly uncommon. The release of an emergency situation suggestion requesting the FAA take immediate action, before the completion of the NTSB investigation is rare.'

The 2 airplane had clashed in a substantial fireball that was noticeable on dashcams of cars and trucks driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

Less than a month later on, on February 17, a Delta passenger aircraft crashed-landed upside down in disorderly scenes at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.

Miraculously, everybody on board endured after being suspended upside-down by their seat belts for a number of minutes until they tentatively began evacuating.

The aircraft had actually been heading to Toronto from Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport with 76 passengers and 4 team members on board.

Some 21 people were taken to the medical facility for treatment to small injuries, and Delta has provided each person a no-strings $30,000 payment in settlement.

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

Dramatic video footage revealed the Beechcraft A36TC erupt in flames in the car park of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five people were hurried to healthcare facility.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency lorries rushed to the scene in Lancaster County as flames engulfed the airplane and neighboring automobiles.

The plane took off as arranged on Sunday afternoon, however rapidly asked for to land back on the tarmac since its door had opened.

American Airlines