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

190,043 Views | 1557 Replies | Last: 18 hrs ago by titan
Kansas Kid
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:24p, 1/29/25
The actual news reporters for CNN and Fox have been totally gutted over the years. It used to be they had solid coverage on issues like this but the reporting so far has been a total joke.
Reply Quote
Horn_in_Aggieland
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:24p, 1/29/25
I hope Pete Hegseth is ready for the spotlight that's about to be focused on him.
Reply Quote
8
Who?mikejones!
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:25p, 1/29/25


Gotta wonder if anyone was on the helo
Reply Quote
5
Silvertaps
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Prosperdick • 9:25p, 1/29/25
AG
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.
Reply Quote
titan
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Silvertaps • 9:25p, 1/29/25
S
Silvertaps said:
titan 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.
Why? Crossing its path carelessly would produce exactly that result, and if the pilot was following a flight plan rigidly in the night, that's all you need.
Reagan is a highly controlled airspace. I'm not aware of helo's being that close to any aircraft runway. To be at the exact altitude at the exact moment as a landing aircraft in an area that typically doesn't see helo traffic…and with the current aircraft technology to avoid these types of collisions. Just seems very unlikely it would be an accident.
If it was CIA though, they might just fly and do what they want and didn't advise enough. Helicopters shouldn't be in that vicinity agree -- but do you know that to be the case, or something that "should not be" --- its going to depend on that answer too ---- are they stupidly allowed near it more commonly than we know?
Reply Quote
EX TEXASEX
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:25p, 1/29/25
9:10 PM CST THIS WAS RELEAED



Reply Quote
1
ETFan
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:26p, 1/29/25
ATC asks PAT25 (the heli) if they have the crj in sight twice with no response then impact a bit later.

EDIT: This was very early in, UHF has since been added from heli and they did respond.
Reply Quote
17
1 edit
bthotugigem05
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:26p, 1/29/25
AG
They run the helos and planes pretty close together at lower altitudes, just so much metal to move. DCA ATC are some of the best in the business, prayers for those lost and I know we will find out the true story in due time.
Reply Quote
4
1 edit
Kansas Kid
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:27p, 1/29/25
AA statement says manifest was 60 passengers and 4 crew.
Reply Quote
5
titan
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to EX TEXASEX • 9:27p, 1/29/25
S
EX TEXASEX said:
BREAKING NEWS 4 SURVIVORS PULLED FROM WATER PER POLITICO
Praise to God if True. Let it be so.
Reply Quote
35
FTAG 2000
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:28p, 1/29/25
AG
The awful rumor I'm hearing from family in aviation biz is diversity hire ATC. Hope that is wrong for the great DEI debate going on.
Reply Quote
13
Yukon Cornelius
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Who?mikejones! • 9:28p, 1/29/25
AG
Seeing it came from Langley but idk
Reply Quote
john_football
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to titan • 9:29p, 1/29/25
titan said:
Silvertaps said:
titan 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.
Why? Crossing its path carelessly would produce exactly that result, and if the pilot was following a flight plan rigidly in the night, that's all you need.
Reagan is a highly controlled airspace. I'm not aware of helo's being that close to any aircraft runway. To be at the exact altitude at the exact moment as a landing aircraft in an area that typically doesn't see helo traffic…and with the current aircraft technology to avoid these types of collisions. Just seems very unlikely it would be an accident.
If it was CIA though, they might just fly and do what they want and didn't advise enough. Helicopters shouldn't be in that vicinity agree -- but do you know that to be the case, or something that "should not be" --- its going to depend on that answer too ---- are they stupidly allowed near it more commonly than we know?


CIA doesn't fly UH-60s. There are multiple military units, in that area, that do..
Reply Quote
1
FireAg
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:29p, 1/29/25
AG
Man…there's A LOT of time with that helo flying straight on the screen…how the hell did the systems on the helo not pick up the jet? How did the helo pilots not see the jet? How did ATC not see they were going to collide?

Again…A LOT of time elapses on the video with the helo flying toward the jet's path…plenty of time for visual, systems, and ATC to see there was a collision about to take place…so all 3 had to have failed…
Reply Quote
30
1 edit
CanyonAg77
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Kansas Kid • 9:29p, 1/29/25
AG
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
Reply Quote
1
Gordo14
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Kraken • 9:29p, 1/29/25
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.
Reply Quote
8
titan
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to ETFan • 9:29p, 1/29/25
S
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)
Reply Quote
john_football
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:30p, 1/29/25
Not sure what the temps are there, hopefully it is unusually warm there tonight .
Reply Quote
91AggieLawyer
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to annie88 • 9:30p, 1/29/25
AG
annie88 said:
I can still remember watching this footage after high school when it happened in 1982. And I distinctly remember the man that handed over the rope the helicopter was sending down to a woman and then he drowned.

Also, the woman that appeared to try to be swimming, but she had jet fuel in her eyes and couldn't see.


The Air Florida crash was the first thing I thought of. Probably not as icy, but that water is still cold. They can't survive in there for too long. 20 minutes, maybe 30, tops.
Reply Quote
2
Aggie95
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to ETFan • 9:30p, 1/29/25
AG
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?
Reply Quote
1
bthotugigem05
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to FTAG 2000 • 9:30p, 1/29/25
AG
FTAG 2000 said:
The awful rumor I'm hearing from family in aviation biz is diversity hire ATC. Hope that is wrong for the great DEI debate going on.
ATC recordings seem to already disagree. Controller asked the helo twice if they had the CRJ in sight.
Reply Quote
10
nhamp07
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to FTAG 2000 • 9:30p, 1/29/25
AG
FTAG 2000 said:
The awful rumor I'm hearing from family in aviation biz is diversity hire ATC. Hope that is wrong for the great DEI debate going on.


There's zero chance anyone outside of that tower knows who the controller is yet.
Reply Quote
79
infinity ag
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:30p, 1/29/25
4 people pulled out.
They did not say bodies so that means 4 survivors.
Reply Quote
1
CowboyGirl
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Silvertaps • 9:31p, 1/29/25
AG
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.
Reply Quote
2
EX TEXASEX
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to 91AggieLawyer • 9:31p, 1/29/25
Lenny Skutnik an everyday guy became a hero !!!!! We need Lenny SKutniks more than ever today !!!!
Reply Quote
1
Prosperdick
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to FTAG 2000 • 9:31p, 1/29/25
AG
FTAG 2000 said:
The awful rumor I'm hearing from family in aviation biz is diversity hire ATC. Hope that is wrong for the great DEI debate going on.

From about a year ago...
Reply Quote
17
FireAg
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to ETFan • 9:31p, 1/29/25
AG
ETFan said:
ATC asks PAT25 (the heli) if they have the crj in sight twice with no response then impact a bit later.

Well that's disturbing…
Reply Quote
3
JB!98
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:31p, 1/29/25
AG
Does TCAS not work in the approach or take off due to the proximity to so many other aircraft? Does it only read transponders, which I assume the Blackhawk did not have on?

NVM I type too slow. Saw the question above.
Reply Quote
1 edit
Horn_in_Aggieland
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to john_football • 9:32p, 1/29/25
Guy on CNN said water was 40-42 degrees.
Reply Quote
3
Stat Monitor Repairman
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:32p, 1/29/25
Is the track of the Blackhawk (PAT25) reflected on Flightaware?

Anyone know?
Reply Quote
deddog
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to BadMoonRisin • 9:33p, 1/29/25
AG
BadMoonRisin said:
Quote:
Mid air collision between American Eagle 5342 (N709PS) and helo Army PAT-25 (VH-60), both aircraft in the Potomac off rwy 33, multiple DOA, SAR in progress.
Search & Rescue in progress.
Sucks. There's no rescue on this one. They probably hit about 200/300 feet in the air? and there was a large explosion
Reply Quote
titan
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Prosperdick • 9:33p, 1/29/25
S
Prosperdick said:
FTAG 2000 said:
The awful rumor I'm hearing from family in aviation biz is diversity hire ATC. Hope that is wrong for the great DEI debate going on.

From about a year ago...
Doesn't that kind of hire (Reagan precedent) fall under Trump's power and he can abolish and sweep away such practices if they are going on?
Reply Quote
3
HowdyTAMU
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Gordo14 • 9:33p, 1/29/25
AG
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.


Do you think TCAS was made for jet routes??
Reply Quote
Catag94
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Gordo14 • 9:33p, 1/29/25
AG
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.


Agreed. I cannot image a scenario where any aircraft would ever be cleared to transition an ILS approach path to a runway at the approach altitude. Helo should not have been there or even planning to transition that space.
Should have been further out at that altitude Or over the runway centerline, but that's not possible given other runways.
Reply Quote
2
FireAg
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to titan • 9:33p, 1/29/25
AG
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…
Reply Quote
5
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.