FAA: 1 air traffic controller working 2 positions prior to deadly DC plane crash

A collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people brought renewed focus on the federal agency charged with investigating aviation disasters.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Hommendy described the investigation into the crash Wednesday night as an “all-hands-on-deck event” for the agency during a news conference Thursday in which she appeared with members of the board and a senior investigator overseeing the probe.
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[@flyfishing1776]

Sincerest condolences 🙏

[@Richard.Cabeza]

No helicopter should ever fly into the landing approach path of airliners. Why did that happen?

[@rustymaximus9179]

It is a regular thing apparently. Remember this is DC. They have to be able to do this.

[@richert8]

@@rustymaximus9179 The controll tower should be able to guide and give direction to the aircraft- they did not.

[@xcalibertrekker6693]

@@richert8 They cannot do that for every aircraft.

[@UnrealEngine5Hater]

⁠@@xcalibertrekker6693thats what the control tower does...

[@ffjsb]

The flight path was laid out by the same guy that designed the figure 8 track for demolition derbys....

[@lisazappala4381]

My sincerest condolences

[@ethylinwashington4814]

Condolences to all the families. We are so sorry for your loss. . 🙏🏾🙏🏼🙏🏿

[@Chromatic145]

It was pilot error by the young helicopter crew. Nothing to do with politics.

[@MaxwellPrump]

Nothing to do with ATC or politics. The helicopter was flying at 350ft when the max permitted altitude in that area is 200ft. They were also offset laterally to the center of the river, when they should have been hugging the east side. Classic military incompetence.

[@claudinaguerra8201]

Correct!! Who is the commander in chief?? I will continue to blame Trump, after all he is blaming everyone including Obama for God's sake!!

[@habibi750]

300ft, not 200ft

[@MaxwellPrump]

@@habibi750 Based on this chart, the limit is 200ft within Wilson Bridge and Memorial Bridge. avherald.com/img/psa_crj7_n709ps_washington_250129_4.jpg

[@Alphameir85]

If this is the case , then you can’t blame any air traffic controller who is trying to do two people’s jobs . There can’t be any shortcuts when it comes to safety and people’s lives . I know that staff shortages are plaguing the FAA. After COVID they never went back to normal , they are always struggling with staffing issues, which is unacceptable!!!

[@Paul1958R]

The helo pilot acknowleged that he had a visual fix on the CJR. What they are going to find is that the helo pilot had a visual fix on _something_ but probably NOT the CRJ that he hit. Probably never saw the CRJ that he hit

[@theopensource09]

Come on. We heard the exchange, the helicopter pilot ignored the tower

[@stevesibaja3123]

2nd plane crashed this week that's crazy😱😱😱😱

[@Islaputingbato]

Who is the responsible of the radar monitoring both coming to same direction and same altitude simple as that

[@ronmaxim8009]

Pilot is responsible for seeing and avoiding. Its written right in the regulations.. Plane on final approach has the right of way.. Its written in the regulations. Fixed wing aircraft have right of way over rotorcraft.. Its written right in the regulations... helo pilot declared twice that he saw the traffic and would maintain visual separation.. Visual separation is maintained at thousands of airports around the country without the assistance of radar or air traffic controllers.

[@WW3_Soon]

An overworked tired sleep deprived air traffic controller on duty.

[@schumi9xwdc]

Blame Ronald Reagan

[@johngray1009]

ATC warned the Black Hawk of the proximity of the American. Black Hawk confirmed and assumed visual seperation. Probably had visual on a differemt plane as they were all in line on the glide path. Definitely not ATC's fault.

[@patriciageorge2916]

Definitely some fact. They didn't give enough information and had a hand in this. There were many factors.

[@GaryWhipple-q6w]

Human error it's a shame 😭

[@habibi750]

😂😂 come on. Just look at the crash video. You mean to tell me the helicopter pilot didn't see a giant airplane in front of him?

[@QAnswer]

ATC didn’t use the proper terminology to inform the Blackhawk crew of conflicting traffic, while all the landing traffic are coming from the south of the bridge, this could have contributed to the pilot looking at wrong traffic. The other factor is if the Blackhawk pilot were wearing night vision goggles for night flight training, this will limit their field of view, especially when they were already looking at wrong aircraft.

[@thomasprice1320]

There is no way this Blackhawk mistook another plane. The only other plane was airborne and not making an approach to land. The Blackhawk had to travel a long distance to reach the AA jet. This jet was well lit and had flashing lights. The Blackhawk couldn't miss those lights. They had plenty of time to maneuver away from that AA jet, but didn't!! Why? One theory that no one seems to see is there is technology out there that because of computers a plane can be controlled from the ground. My question is, were the pilots really in control of the Blackhawk? Was someone from the ground really controlling that chopper?????? Think about this. My opinion says this was no accident.

[@sweetesthawaiianprincess8086]

Not related at all to Trump’s freeze on hiring! Tragedy and devastating 😭🙏🏼

[@Chromatic145]

Not at all troll boy.

[@stevesibaja3123]

Washington DC Wednesday Philadelphia Friday

[@Bill-vo1wn]

We have not heard from the FAA. WAKE up AMERICA 🇺🇸 never again.

[@flamingmohmohawesome4953]

Yeah cuz Trump fired the FAA director

[@AdrienneFerris]

One ATC working two positions. Controllers need to shut it down! If they continue to allow the shortage of staffing to go on it will continue. Shut it down and watch everything change for the better.

[@zaphod22]

Now this is a worthless report.Nothing to do with the actual crash.

[@montanitaplease5715]

For those of us who saw the movie Final Destination 1 ☠️

[@paulbunion1244]

Being familiar w/ the area, the path that the Blackhawk took, starts VERY close to The GB/CIA HQ. Their wandering path down the Potomac, looks similar to my tracings when flying my DJI drone out in the country. Watching the video, the AA jet's landing lights were so Bright, that the Blackhawk cast a shadow. And just prior to the horror, AA's landing lights were so bright, they bleached out the Blackhawk's silhouette! Those chopper pilots must have been dead, to NOT see the landing AA passenger jet.

[@paulnewman2778]

The military dosent have a black box

[@lisamarie9159]

On January 21st, a certain someone, fired the head of TSA, The Coast guard and gutted the key aviation safety committee. Yet today that certain someone is also on air claiming that this is a disaster due to D.E.I. which is insensitive to make this political to the family members whose loved ones have all passed away.

[@wturn5354]

Of course the union is going to claim staffing! Be interesting how many controllers were on duty, how many on break? Also, what is the average “time on position” for a shift? Guarantee it’s not over 4.5 hours a day!

[@Paul1958R]

The ATC work load is IRRELEVANT. The corridor the helo was flying in had a 200 ft max altitude restriction. The CJR was cleared to land on a approved approach and was on glide path at 400-500 ft where the collision occured. The helo was well above his max allowed altitude.

[@khrcar6596]

Tha heck do ya mean ..?!?

[@bereketdamtew7766]

You can't say incompetent US air force caused the disaster. If it were overseas, you might as well blame the country. Oblivious and in denial.

[@Heavenlydaz]

Air Force had nothing to do with it, it was an army helicopter.

[@MonroeCoinGoldExchangeMonroeCo]

Of course, it led to a crash!!!!!!

[@JefferyBogue]

In the canary islands 2 american jumbo. Jets colided with over 5hundred people losing there life in 1977 2 air trafic controlers listening to the soccer game and fog and a pilot that took off before he was given permission

[@theboringchannel2027]

fox new host in charge of the military is working out well so far.

[@agusbrz78]

What ? Are you joking ?

[@theboringchannel2027]

@@agusbrz78 Joke is we have an unqualified fox new host in charge of the military.

[@Whodunnit-h1k]

2 positions/D.E.I.?

[@theboringchannel2027]

trump cutting federal workers, what could possibly go wrong.

[@adolforosado]

DEI HIRES, AND UNDERSTAFFING. THIS WAS FAA'S FAULT.

[@ADMMRZ]

Brainwashed

[@bikeflash]

FAAs fault that Trump gutted them days before?

[@agusbrz78]

So without DEI it would be even bigger understaffing, but of course you don't see the contradiction.

[@kikiwest2001]

So I guess white men are DEI then

[@adolforosado]

@@agusbrz78 That's just woke bullshit. DEI is DEAD. Get it through your head.

[@fabriziomencarelli204]

Criminal !! PIC is unqualified 500 hours female

[@ATCer663]

The instructor was a Male with over 1000 hours. The instructor is ultimately the one in charge so I don’t see your point.

[@mikeshamhart1850]

DEI 💯 or Not ?

[@flamingmohmohawesome4953]

Or Jan 20th: FAA Director was fired. Jan 21st: Air traffic controller hiring frozen. Jan 22nd: Aviation safety advisory committee disbanded. Jan 28th: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees. Jan 29th: First American midair collision in 16 years.