Reviews of moments that led to the crash of the deadly atmosphere on Wednesday, which included an army helicopter and American airline plane, revealed many failures and errors.
In normal operating conditions, air traffic control of helicopters and aircraft at Reagan National Airport is treated by two operators. However, on Wednesday, duties were combined, leaving only one person to deal with both duties, New York Times I mentioned.
The director, citing a source who was not allowed to speak publicly, indicated that there is usually only one observer of air traffic after 9:30 pm, but the supervisor allows one to install it early. Domain The collision left 67 dead It happened at 9:00 pm local time.
However, the person familiar with the matter made it clear to Fox News Digital that the parking is combined if the air control units are forced to stay away from the console control unit, or if they are involved in changing the shift. Control units may also have to move away when the air traffic is slow, as the person explained, and it spoke on the condition that his identity is not disclosed to discuss internal procedures.
Emergency workers recover the debris from the Botomac River in the aftermath of the American Eagle Flight 5342 and the Black Hawk helicopter, as it appears from Virginia on January 30, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Baria)
Multiple reports also indicate that the Black Hawk helicopter may fly higher than it was supposed to put it outside the approved flight path. The Times reported that the deviant black falcon from the adopted low flight path that would have allowed it to avoid the passenger plane. A senior army official told the executive that the Black Hawk pilots had moved the road before and were aware of the restrictions of height.
President Donald Trump commented on reports in a social publication on Friday.
“The Blackkuk helicopter was very high,” Trump wrote.
Search efforts on a deadly collision wreckage between an American aircraft plane and an army helicopter in the Botomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 31, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP)
The Times, citing a report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said that air traffic control may have issued instructions to the pilot pilot to another runway axis as they approached the airport.
The National Transport Safety Council (NTSB) is currently leading an investigation into a deadly collision. On Friday, NTSB Todd Inman Fox Business told a member of the agency that the agency achieved “relevant facts” and avoid speculation amid the ongoing investigation.
On Friday morning, Defense Minister Beit Higseth spoke with “Fox & Friends” about the deadly accident, describing it “completely unacceptable.” Higseth emphasized that the black box in Black Hawk, which has not yet been recovered, will give Daws decisive visions about internal communications.
“We look at the height … someone is at the wrong height. The investigation will help us understand this – was Black Hawk very high? Was that in the path? Now we don't know completely.”
The crew retrieves the 5342 US Airways flight in the Botomac River, Washington, DC, January 30, 2025. The plane participated in a fatal collision with a Black Hawk helicopter in the US Army on Wednesday evening. (Lee Green in favor of Fox News Digital)
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HegSeth also called for priority to merit on the “background” amid speculation that diversity, fair and integration policies (Dei) played a role in the accident. some, Including President TrumpThey asked whether those working to monitor air traffic were appointed based on Dei's targets, rather than professional qualifications.
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President Trump said on Thursday that the collision of the deadly atmosphere was “the meeting of the bad decisions made, and you have people who lost their lives and lost their lives violently.”
Greg Winner and Frari Trimble contributed to this report.
