regional jet crash? (American Airlines) at Reagan (DCA)

189,884 Views | 1557 Replies | Last: 17 hrs ago by titan
Kansas Kid
How long do you want to ignore this user?
CanyonAg77 said:

Kansas Kid said:

Unfortunately I know at least one on the plane. The family as of 10-15 minutes ago still hasn't heard anything according to a mutual friend but unfortunately it doesn't look good.

I saw that they were giving the flight number, which means all the families got the news from TV

That stinks
The family heard when a friend that has heard the news flash called to ask if their loved one was onboard.
infinity ag
How long do you want to ignore this user?
There could be a chance of terrorism also.
TAMUallen
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Horn_in_Aggieland said:

Guy on CNN said water was 40-42 degrees.


They'd have 1-3 hours to possibly pull it out in the water
annie88
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Rapier108 said:

This was the aircraft involved.

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10185544

I fly those often from College Station to Dallas for international connecting flights. I grew up in Houston, but I don't care for Houston intercontinental airport much anymore. It's a very easy commute, cheaper parking from here.
bthotugigem05
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Would strongly prefer to keep this to breaking news and not make it about hiring practices at air traffic control.
Silvertaps
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
CowboyGirl said:

Silvertaps said:

Prosperdick said:

Silvertaps said:

Harry Stone said:

From the video it looks like that helicopter targeted the plane. Hope Im wrong. I hate this.

I didn't want to say this…but seems the odds of this happening on accident are close to unlikely.
I wouldn't say "close to unlikely" because I think the chance of an air traffic mishap is just as likely as something targeted.

Probably was an accident…but as I just stated, not aware of helicopters being that close the airport runways, especially at Reagan.
Reports said the helicopter was part of the Army VIP transport service - they run those helicopters all up and down the Potomac from Andrews/Pentagon/CIA/WH/Bolling AFB/Ft. Belvoir, etc.

I get that…but through the path an an active runway?
EX TEXASEX
How long do you want to ignore this user?
TommyBrady
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I've flown on those Army VIP helicopters from DC to Northern VA and I can tell ya it's congested as hell in that airspace.

Praying for everybody especially the passengers on the plane originating from my hometown of Wichita
Who?mikejones!
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Stat Monitor Repairman said:

Is the track of the Blackhawk (PAT25) reflected on Flightaware?

Anyone know?


https://www.airnavradar.com/data/mode-s/AE313D
Horn_in_Aggieland
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Yeah he said we were in the golden hour. But aren't we nearing the 2 hour mark since the crash?
bthotugigem05
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Yes. It happens. ATC controls class B airspace from 0 to 10000 feet. They are in charge of coordinating all that traffic. It's why DCA controllers are considered some of the best, so much traffic coming and going at all hours.
Gunny456
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
This clearly when we need to invoke the 48 hour rule.
CanyonAg77
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
infinity ag said:

There could be a chance of terrorism also.

Almost zero
Charpie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
For tonight can we keep this about the news and not about hiring practices?!? This thread is fantastic.
Who?mikejones!
How long do you want to ignore this user?
infinity ag said:

There could be a chance of terrorism also.


You think a gold top vip army helicopter piloted committed any act of terrorism?
The Fall Guy
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Staff, anyway to keep politics out of this for right now and just the facts as they come in?
deddog
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Kansas Kid said:

AA statement says manifest was 60 passengers and 4 crew.
Damn...
Rapier108
How long do you want to ignore this user?
annie88 said:

Rapier108 said:

This was the aircraft involved.

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10185544

I fly those often from College Station to Dallas for international connecting flights. I grew up in Houston, but I don't care for Houston intercontinental airport much anymore. It's a very easy commute, cheaper parking from here.
Yep, been on one a well, more than a few times including from CLL to DFW.

IAH to ORD on one wasn't a lot of fun.
"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." - Sir Winston Churchill
Catag94
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
With all due reverence for the lives involved, I really hope Pete Hegseth was NOT on that Helo.
Kansas Kid
How long do you want to ignore this user?
deddog said:

Kansas Kid said:

AA statement says manifest was 60 passengers and 4 crew.
Damn...
It sucks but at least it wasn't a 737 or bigger with a lot more passengers. It still sucks for those involved but it could have been a lot worse death toll.
Who?mikejones!
How long do you want to ignore this user?
deddog
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
FireAg said:

titan said:

ETFan said:

ATC asks PAT25 (the heli) if they have the crj in sight twice with no response then impact a bit later.
That points toward Annie's idea of medical event perhaps. It also does increase the odds of intentional (or again, too mulish about some `ops' mission to respond)

Blackhawks have two pilots, correct? So it would have to be a medical for both, no? Seems highly unlikely…
But they might have been distracted in the cockpit because of other issues? It was dusk, so it's posible they didn't see the CRJ?
Who?mikejones!
How long do you want to ignore this user?
frankm01
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Gordo14 said:

The Kraken said:

HowdyTAMU said:

TCAS should have been screaming at both pilots telling them how to maneuver and avoid. I fear the worst as the helo should have been able to take evasive measures.


Do military helicopters have TCAS?


Even if they did that's not really a place where TCAS would work. There was no room for both aircraft to maneuver at that altitude.

100% this is ATC or the helicopter. We will probably know the answet by tomorrow as someone is already breaking down the ATC trnasmissions.


I think TCAS is disabled at and below 1500 feet radio altitude.
ETFan
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Aggie95 said:

ETFan said:

ATC asks PAT25 (the heli) if they have the crj in sight twice with no response then impact a bit later.
where did you hear this?


https://archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-Twr-Jan-30-2025-0130Z.mp3


17:30+
FireAg
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
infinity ag said:

There could be a chance of terrorism also.

Could be…we don't know either way…

Pilots interviewing on Fox News are hinting at how highly unusual this would be, and they ATC traffic asking the helo if they see the jet and no response…you can tell in their voices that they are wondering the same thing some of us are…

Still…we don't know for sure either way, but it sucks that we can't rule out foul play…
titan
How long do you want to ignore this user?
S

Will go out on a limb and say, there is almost no chance the jet was targeting the helo because of any aboard.
HowdyTAMU
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Approach speed for the plane is about 150 knots.
bthotugigem05
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
deddog said:

FireAg said:

titan said:

ETFan said:

ATC asks PAT25 (the heli) if they have the crj in sight twice with no response then impact a bit later.
That points toward Annie's idea of medical event perhaps. It also does increase the odds of intentional (or again, too mulish about some `ops' mission to respond)

Blackhawks have two pilots, correct? So it would have to be a medical for both, no? Seems highly unlikely…
But they might have been distracted in the cockpit because of other issues? It was dusk, so it's posible they didn't see the CRJ?
That's going to be the question. Looked like the CRJ was on a fairly typical glide path into DCA. Not sure whether the helo thought the jet was moving faster than it was or what.
EX TEXASEX
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Charpie said:

For tonight can we keep this about the news and not about hiring practices?!? This thread is fantastic.
Ok.
Charlie 31
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Who?mikejones! said:



Gotta wonder if anyone was on the helo
I have been wondering the same thing.

How did that helicopter fly straight into that plane unless there was intent to crash into the plane?

This looks like it was a targeted crash.
deddog
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
FireAg said:

infinity ag said:

There could be a chance of terrorism also.

Could be…we don't know either way…

Pilots interviewing on Fox News are hinting at how highly unusual this would be, and they ATC traffic asking the helo if they see the jet and no response…you can tell in their voices that they are wondering the same thing some of us are…

Still…we don't know for sure either way, but it sucks that we can't rule out foul play…
I think problems in the cockpit are more likely, causing the crew to get distracted. Really odd that they didn't respond. Anyone know when their previous communication was with ATC?
Decay
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Catag94 said:

With all due reverence for the lives involved, I really hope Pete Hegseth was NOT on that Helo.

When they say VIP, what does that usually entail? Politicians? CEOs? Foreign dignitaries? Military Brass?
Stat Monitor Repairman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Stat Monitor Repairman said:

Is the track of the Blackhawk (PAT25) reflected on Flightaware?

Anyone know?


Looks to be it, no?

Link
saltyoldguy
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
He posted on X he was monitoring the situation
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.