The U.S. Army helicopter may have collided with an American Airlines plane in the skies over Washington because it was flying too high and outside the authorized flight path at the time of the crash.
This information comes from sources cited by The New York Times.
This year has been the deadliest for commercial aviation since 2018 – studyCommercial aviation experienced its deadliest year since 2018 – a total of 318 people died in aviation accidents in 2024.It is reported that the Black Hawk military helicopter was supposed to fly at a different location and lower to the ground, crossing the busy airspace of Reagan Airport.
Before the helicopter can enter any busy commercial airspace, it must receive approval from air traffic control. However, according to sources, the helicopter pilot did not follow the designated route.
It was flying at an altitude of over 300 feet instead of below 200 feet and deviated from the approved path by at least half a mile when it collided with the plane.
The Washington Post, citing a report on the circumstances of the crash, also states that at the time of the accident, the control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was not fully staffed.
At the time of the collision, two people were performing the duties of four. The report concluded that the staffing level of the control tower was "abnormal" for that time of day or for the volume of air traffic over Washington, D.C.
Recall that the aviation accident over Washington occurred on Wednesday evening local time. The American Airlines plane, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport and fell into the Potomac River.
There were 64 people on board the plane and three military personnel on the helicopter. No one survived.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to keep track of the most interesting and exclusive news from "Slovo i Delo".