Federal investigators searching for the reason for the collision between a passenger jet and a US military helicopter that killed 67 folks close to Washington DC in late January beneficial a ban on some helicopter flights Tuesday to enhance security.
The advice got here after a navy helicopter collided with an American Airways jet because it approached Ronald Reagan nationwide airport over the Potomac River on 29 January. Among the many victims had been 28 members of the figure-skating neighborhood.
On Tuesday, Jennifer Homendy, chair of the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB), mentioned that beneath the present apply, helicopters and planes might be as shut as 75ft other than one another throughout touchdown. She mentioned investigators had recognized 15,214 cases of planes receiving alerts about helicopters being in shut proximity between October 2021 and December 2024.
Investigators have mentioned the helicopter could have had inaccurate altitude readings within the moments earlier than the crash – and the crew could not have heard key directions from air site visitors controllers. The collision probably occurred at an altitude just below 300ft (91 meters), because the airplane descended towards the helicopter, which was effectively above its 200ft (61-meter) restrict for that location.
The helicopter pilots could have additionally missed a part of one other communication, when the tower mentioned the jet was turning towards a special runway, Homendy mentioned final month.
The helicopter was on a “test” flight that night time the place the pilot was present process an annual take a look at and a take a look at on utilizing night-vision goggles, Homendy mentioned. Investigators consider the crew had been carrying night-vision goggles all through the flight.
after e-newsletter promotion
The military has mentioned the Black Hawk crew had been extremely skilled, and accustomed to the crowded skies across the nation’s capital. Everybody on each the regional jet and helicopter had been killed.
Supply hyperlink
