Given the tight regulations over the sensitive airspace, Northeastern University airlines expert Ravi Sarathy says the collision is very unusual.
A midair crash killed everyone aboard an American Airlines passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided Wednesday night as the plane was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for landing.
The crash occurred at 9 p.m. EST, according to the FAA. American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, was about 400 feet above the Potomac River and traveling at 140 mph when it suddenly lost altitude.
There are no survivors, according to officials. About 27 bodies had been recovered Thursday afternoon. An air traffic controller on duty Wednesday evening was handling responsibilities usually handled by two people, officials said.
The last fatal U.S. commercial plane crash occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, killing 49 people.
“It’s almost one of those black swan events,” Sarathy says.
Sarathy says that airplanes approaching Reagan National from the south typically follow a fixed flight path.
“They have a very definite flight path into Reagan that they’re supposed to follow; part of the reason for that is to reduce noise pollution in the various communities,” he says. “These planes typically go over the river and come very close to the airport before actually landing. And that’s what this plane was doing.”
Air traffic controllers had cleared the CRJ-700 jet to land on Reagan’s shorter Runway 33. Control tower audio captured a controller asking the helicopter, “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” just before impact.
Sarathy notes that the FAA manages the communications and navigation systems for both military and civilian aircraft. However, the Air Force also has its own entity, called the Aerospace Control Authority, which provides air traffic control services for military aircraft in given areas.
“There’s also the complication of what is called a ‘flight-restricted zone’ around Reagan because it’s so close to the White House,” Sarathy says. “Within that area, there are significant restrictions on aircraft.”
Reporting suggests that the military helicopter was on a training flight, which raises questions about whether its transponder was working properly, Sarathy says.
“It’s possible that the pilots who were being trained on this mission made a mistake, so it could be human error,” Sarathy says. “It’s early days, so this is all impossible to know.”
An Army official told the Associated Press that three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts,” American Airlines said in a statement.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several of its members were on the flight.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization said in a statement.
The White House also issued a statement Wednesday night.
“May God bless their souls,” President Donald Trump said. “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”