Air collision above the Potomac
The first major US air disaster in sixteen years occurred last night in Washington DC: an Army helicopter on a training flight with three crew members collided with an American airlines flight from Wichita carrying 64 souls on board. Both planes plunged into the frigid waters in the darkness, and although rescue crews tried their best, there are apparently no survivors and 28 bodies have been recovered.
It will take some time before the exact cause is known, but human error or errors seem obviously to be the reason this happened. Could be pilot error – almost certainly of the helicopter – could be controller error, could be both.
For those who were around in the 1980s, the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 almost inevitably comes to mind. It was also bitterly cold that day, and the cold was part of the reason for the crash because the pilots didn’t follow the proper de-icing procedures. The plane hit a bridge and plummeted into the icy Potomac, but the fact that it happened in daylight helped. Still, there were only five survivors, one saved by the heroic efforts of passer-by Lenny Skutnik, who plunged into the icy water to save a woman.
As I said, no survivors for last night’s crash, and perhaps no possibility of survivors even if it had occurred in broad daylight. RIP. Some of the dead were up-and-coming figure skaters, their coaches, and families – fourteen in all. They included six people from the skating club of Boston: two teenage skaters, two mothers, and two coaches who had been the 1994 World Champions in the pairs competition. I’m old enough to remember the horrible plane crash in 1961 in which the entire US figure skating team was killed. It made a deep impression on me as a child.
President Trump made some remarks today about last night’s crash, for which he blamed DEI. You can see some of the exchanges here. Does he know something we don’t? Possibly. But whether that’s the case or not, in my opinion his remarks were premature and inappropriate for the day after. There’s plenty of time to blame DEI if and when more information comes in that indicates that DEI was a factor.
Inappropriate and premature — unless he knows something we don’t; even then, it could have waited. But he speaks his mind, sometimes when he shouldn’t. The questions about DEI among the military, FAA, and airline pilots were widely discussed before this crash. The head of the FAA resigned under pressure on Jan. 20, but that would have no direct bearing on this terrible event.
Always wait for final investigation but apparently tower asked helo to be aware of jet and helo said they saw it but were looking at another nearby jet.
He didn’t explicitly blame DEI from what I saw. He raised it as a broader concern for future safety, while saying things like “We will get to the bottom of this,” regarding last night’s disaster. You can argue this wasn’t the moment for that, but I don’t see it as a big faux pas, though you can be sure the MSM will make it out to be.
Have to give President Trump some leeway on running his mouth — he has done a most excellent job this time (so far) of biting his tongue, IMHO.
There is news that the tower had 19 ATC staff at the time vs 30 prescribed, and that one controller was doing both helo and commercial air traffic, which would ordinarily be two separate controllers.
Karmi:
Oh, I give him plenty of leeway. I think it’s an unforced error, however. But that’s going to happen sometimes.
President Trump on DEI:
“…n my opinion his remarks were premature and inappropriate for the day after. There’s plenty of time to blame DEI if and when more information comes in that indicates that DEI was a factor.”
Well stated, neo.
47 is right about what ails the FAA but maddeningly premature to focus on it now but he’s so focused on driving change faster than the swamp can adapt these things will happen. Like Neo, I wish 47 could have resisted taking a swing at the DEI pinata, but that’s not his style.
Love the Donald but IMHO he should have held off for a few days. Initial statements should come from FAA or Transportation or NTSA, this tragic event was way below Donald’s pay grade. Media will be predictably hysterical about it.
SecDef Hegseth was on TV earlier saying there was an elevation problem. Commentary is that the ceiling for helicopters above the Potomac in that area is 200 ft. The crash occurred at something like 350-400 ft. So even if there were visual errors and confusion from the controllers, the Blackhawk was well above its approved elevation. If this wasn’t an equipment malfunction, then it was pilot error. There are “black boxes” which they will find to investigate all aspects of this. The NTSB chair says they know a lot at this point but they are going to verify everything. Very proper.
I was not too impressed with the new Sec Transportation either.
neo (3:50 pm) said:
“I think it’s an unforced error, however. But that’s going to happen sometimes.”
I do believe I know where you’re coming from, neo, but this sort of unforced error need not ever happen. It should *never* happen, unless the error-committer is an extremely undisciplined bloviator. The man suffers from long-standing diarrhea of the mouth.
ref my comment at 4:45 pm. Haven’t been able to find the “guidelines for hiring on the Federal Aviation Administration website” that the article quoted Trump referencing.
Judging by the comments in this thread – I hope Trump was quoting correctly, if that is what he actually said…
I read somewhere that the ATC radar can’t read the elevation at the low level of the helicopter so the pilot is responsible for maintaining his elevation at the 200 ceiling.
May have read this wrong and the pilots here can correct me but that would seem to take at least some of the blame from the ATC.
CNN is all over it already, with the apparently new attack chihuahua reporter – Daniel Dale:
Fact check: Trump’s FAA used the same language about hiring people with disabilities he’s now blasting
A tragedy; and a shock. We have rightfully come to believe that when we board an airline in the United States we will be safe.
I believe that this was an avoidable tragedy. There is little doubt in my mind that the mid-air collision was a result of human error. Well, in a sense, they all are. But in this case on the part of whom? I, along with the rest of the general public, have not a clue at this time. I hate it when experts and pseudo-experts run to the nearest microphone to speculate and pontificate.
As is so often the case, Trump would do well to take a deep breath before opening his mouth. I think that the push for DEI within the controller ranks, and of course within the Armed Forces, is pretty well documented. But there is an appropriate time to address that.
Here’s what 47 is referring to:
https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1885017228958986276
Could be the acting administrator has pulled the guidelines in order to “update” them.
SECDEF stuck up for the Blackhawk crew despite probably knowing they were flying 100 – 200 ft above the helicopter corridor’s max altitude. If they’d stayed in the corridor they’d have been clear of traffic to either runway. Night VFR flying around DCA is challenging – busy, poor visual cues, etc. In my day, accidents happened often around milestone flight hrs like the 500 or 1000 hrs of the Blackhawk crew when pilots are experienced enough to let their guard down. The Army will have a good handle on what role the Blackhawk crew played in the next 24-48 hrs in order to get the unit flying again and the NTSB will tell the full story after interviewing and reconstructing everything next year.
Aviation attorney and pilot Arthur Rosenberg considers it most likely an ATC error. He avoids DEI speculation, but notes that air traffic has been growing more rapidly than air traffic controllers for some time.
–“‘This is not rocket science’: Former pilot gives straightforward analysis on DC plane crash”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQbB5Fj4SOM
ATC radar interrogates transponders. It does not generate primary tracks like ADC radar.
“Pushing Tin” is perhaps the only film about the world of air traffic controllers. Stacked 90s cast: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Cate Blanchett and Angelina Jolie.
It’s advertised as a comedy and it is funny, albeit darkly so. However, I find it overlapping with “The Right Stuff,” detailing a high-testosterone world of guys (and a gal) performing intense life-or-death work while competing with each other as well.
I thought it was great and underrated.
“You land a millioon planes safely, then you have one little mid-air colliision and you never hear the end of it.”
–“Pushing Tin” (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH2JGPkkM4k
‘Trump Tally 1/30/2025 Update: Is the old Trump back so soon?!? Trump’s wild plane crash update: From a call for unity to suggesting dwarves shouldn’t be air traffic controllers – and an *AVALANCHE* of news on such in front, on both sides, and following close behind it.
Strong:
1) Pre-Jan 20 was very well organized w/ Trump quiet. CoS Susie Wiles has done a great job!
2) Quickly picked Admin & staff pre-Jan 20.
3) Inauguration Day 2025 shows total preparation made by good leader – unlike being unprepared during his first term.
4) Moved fast on illegal immigration promises – plus lots of helpful EO’s.
5) Have to give Trump a Strong on his choice of Pete Hegseth as SoD – and solid work by the GOP Senate to get him confirmed!
Weak:
1) Failed to end Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours.
2) Re-designates Iranian-backed Houthis as terrorists – lets Iran continue to back them!?!
3) neo called it an “unforced error” on Trump’s part. Most commenters agreed. ‘Twas an internet vision of Trump staring as the Hare in ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’. Horrid response to Air collision above the Potomac – horrid response to a National Tragedy. Probably doesn’t bode well for confidence in his future response/s to a National Emergency…?
I am going to wait until we know what happened.