WASHINGTON (AP) — Troubling details have emerged following a high-stakes aviation incident involving a collision between a helicopter and an American Airlines jet near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. According to investigators, the crew of the helicopter may not have received crucial instructions from the air traffic controller to pass behind the plane, leading to the tragic collision on January 29 that resulted in the loss of all 67 individuals on board the two aircraft.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy revealed on Friday that the cockpit recording from the Black Hawk helicopter indicates that the crew potentially missed the critical instruction just before the collision. The helicopter was on a check flight that fateful night, during which the pilot was undergoing testing on the use of night vision goggles and flying solely by instruments. It is believed that the crew was utilizing night vision goggles throughout the duration of the flight.
This devastating incident marked the deadliest air crash in the United States since 2001 when a jet tragically crashed into a New York City neighborhood shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of all 260 individuals on board, as well as five individuals on the ground. Homendy disclosed that the Black Hawk crew failed to hear the specific directive to “pass behind the” given by the controller due to the helicopter’s microphone key being inadvertently activated at that moment.
Furthermore, during the flight leading up to the collision, the helicopter’s pilot reported an altitude of 300 feet, while the instructor pilot stated that the helicopter was actually at 400 feet. Homendy expressed uncertainty regarding the discrepancy between the reported altitudes, emphasizing that further investigation is required to determine the cause.
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(Sullivan reported from Minneapolis.)
