Update: Officials say there are no survivors to the crash. President Donald Trump on Thursday said it appears it was due to a series of bad decisions.
Original story from Jan. 29: Aircraft traffic has been suspended at Ronald Reagan National Airport after a military helicopter and jet collided in midair.
American Airlines Flight 5342, inbound from Wichita, Kansas, collided with the Blackhawk helicopter. Over 100 ambulances have rushed to the scene. Early reports say as many as 60 souls were onboard the jetliner, which then fell into the Potomac River. It appeared that the Blackhawk flew right into the jet.
The airport that serves the nation’s capital is the most tightly controlled airspace on the planet.
“Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update,” the airport said on X.
The midair collision was captured by a camera at the Kennedy Center:
Update: The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700, manufactured by Bombardier of Canada. American Airlines says there were 60 passengers and four crew members onboard.
The airlines wrote: “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”
President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and asked that God bless the souls of the victims. He thanked the first responders and said he would provide updates as details arise.
CNN blamed the Trump Administration.
On air newscaster Abby Phillip said, “Look, it’s January 29th. We are just nine days out from a presidential transition and administrative transition. The FAA administrator resigned at the end of the Biden administration, so there is no permanent confirmed FAA administrator right now.”
This story will be updated as details emerge as to who was on the aircraft and why the air traffic controllers did not control the air space.
I am praying it wasn’t a DEI hire and of course the communist news network would blame Trump, as if one terrible leader leaving the FAA would be responsible for a line controller, electronics failure, or some other problem they couldn’t control.
Dear Jeanette, I’m afraid your logic is just a little bit upside down here, sweetie. You’re praying that this wasn’t a DEI hire (the whole prayer thing is by itself a little bit ridiculous)? Well if it did turn out to be that way, you’d have a lot more ammunition for your argument that they are never qualified and shouldn’t be in those jobs to begin with. You might want to sharpen up your commenting skills a little bit before picking up your pencil again.
And by the way, it’s really disgusting how you immediately try to politicize everything. It’s quite obvious that you had to stretch a bit to find some way to do it with this catastrophe. It’s amazing to see how people like you have had their minds twisted by right wing media. Is there anything at all that you don’t view through this lens?
Why not say something about how sorry you feel for those who have lost their lives or offer one of your little prayers for their families who will now be grieving? Or you could say something about working together to find the cause of this incident so that it never repeats itself. But no, it’s gotta be politics and left right political war all the way down the line with you. Shameful, really. Acerbic, twisted, hateful, closed-minded, and basically just mean spirited. Have a good day.
Wow, dog…
the lack of self awareness here is overwhelming.
Seriously… take a second or two and look at the numerous comments you have posted here on MRAK that do EXACTLY what you are denigrating Jeanette for doing.
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But, just imagine what you can be when unburdened by what has come before. Mantra of the leftist and child.
lol, well played.
The controller absolutely utilized Pilot-Provided visual separation; the traffic call was however sloppy and incomplete.
“This story will be updated as details emerge as to who was on the aircraft and why the air traffic controllers did not control the air space”
Refrain from statements on subjects you have no clue about.
“ The controller absolutely utilized Pilot-Provided visual separation”
Refrain from providing statements for which you have no evidence.
Listen to the tapes. You stand corrected.
As much as I value your fine supposition the opposite is true and I am not corrected. I have listened to the tape all the way to the “oh” and there’s much to be learned from the investigation.
This has been a very high price to pay for whatever improvements might stem from it.
Your comments demonstrate your complete lack of understanding of ATC procedures. You most definitely stand corrected.
Call the FAA and let them know they can call off the investigation as you know everything. Then get back to us, blowhard. In the interim don’t also assume you can correct me or anyone else. Your pompous correction of Suzanne only to then make guesses of your own is particularly rich. I bet you get invited to all the parties.
Chopper flew level, from behind into the jet
Looks like he suicide targeted the plane. Had night vision
Plane should have lit up like a Christmas tree to him
How’s that?
The Blackhawk crew were training with night vision on. That’s how
This is a definite possibility. NVG have atrocious peripheral vision.
Murder-Suicide is certainly in the cards. A bitter tranny heli pilot 47%ing into the path of a commuter jet and taking 65 others with him after finding out Trump is giving them collectively the boot.
Rumors are flying that this was Jo Ellis, a VNG tranny heli pilot that had been recently quite vocal and angry on social media (and Smerconish) about Trump.
Watching leftists try to misrepresent the co-pilot and, laughably, the ‘crew chief’ as the ones responsible – combined with the mysterious withholding of the identity of the commander suggests DEI chickens coming home to roost as the real issue. Coulter’s Law.
Trump needs to clean house, and he’s the right man for the job.
You really should have checked the “rumor” before you posted it, because that rumor has been debunked. Jo Ellis (he/she/it) has posted a proof of life video to debunk that it was he/she/it flying the black hawk.
How the hell is it Trump’s fault? Good Lord, these morons are unbelievable! What is up with all these plane crashes?
DEI hires
It is President Trump’s fault because a leftist believes that their dear leaders are in absolute control. All activities should be directed from a central authority in their leftist world. It is why they always push for bigger, more powerful, central governments.
The idea that an individual can take action on their own without direction from above is alien to leftists.
Did you just say alien?
Yes I did. Why do you ask?
Don’t mind the shop sweeper. He does not understand some words have multiple meanings. I think if he looked at a thesaurus his mind would melt.
I assumed as much but was giving him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he really does believe super intelligent beings are running the world, and they are withholding free clean sources of energy from the human race.
I didn’t think it was in your vocabulary.
Obviously, you do not actually ever read any of my comments. Especially any of the ones about immigration where I use the term illegal alien regularly.
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That explains a lot, actually. It is obvious that you do not actually read what I post, but instead automatically disagree with me. It would certainly explain the lack of content in most of your replies.
The most controlled class B airport in America. You actually have to have special training and special permission to land there. The Blackhawk does 145 kts and the RJ does 185kts on final. Doubtful the Hawk hit the Jet likely the Jet hit the Hawk. All in all terrible nightmare. Hopefully nothing sinister went on here.
The jet had the right away.
No aircraft has right of way on controlled airspace.
Mostly HMX-1 fly’s H-60’s in that area… Not looking good for the home team… Maybe… ^^^
I did some research last night on Blackhawk Helicopters. It would appear there are now 3 models that require no pilot. Lockheed Martin released this on December 11th 2024:
‘https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024-12-11-Sikorsky-to-Demonstrate-Flight-Autonomy-to-U-S-Marine-Corps
So very sad for all those lives lost last night. They are saying this morning that people are still all strapped in their seats in the plane. They never had a chance.
Can you imagine “mayor” LaFrance having any semblance of command and control if (God forbid) a commercial incident happened in the inlet? She’s incompetent, incapable, and staffed with DEI hires.
The FAA has allowed the airspace over Anchorage, Merrill Field, and Elmendorf to be a complete mess. The FAA does not care about safety of your family flying into and out of Anchorage International. The FAA routinely allows overflights of active runways within extremely close proximity to landing and departing aircraft. Reference the Little Susitna or Chickaloon departures/arrivals in the Alaska supplement. Also many helicopter routes that are internally published. Just like Reagan national can operate for decades without a fatal, ANC has been just as risky.
The responsibility for this accident solely lies on the extremely incompetent FAA management. FAA management has dozens of ridiculous layers. DOGE needs to get in there and clean house. Fire them all. Hire administrators who will actually take action to ensure the safety of the NAS.
Like monkeys flinging poo from behind the bars of their cage at the zoo, libs on X including Aaron Rupar, Heath Mayo, Bakari Sellers, JoJoFromJerz and others are publicly blaming Trump and Hegseth directly. The left is dancing on the bodies of the dead that have not yet even been pulled from the icy depths of the Potomac. They (D)ems are out there, they can’t be bargained with, they can’t be reasoned with, they don’t feel pity or remorse or fear, and absolutely will not stop EVER. You cannot despise these people enough.
The FAA under Biden was a mess. 99% of the facilities run by the FAA are under staffed. Errors were happening on a regular basis.
The American Airlines flight would have been cleared to land and was following ATC instructions. Clearly, the Army helicopter was either not following instructions, or was following bad instructions. Contollers should have caught this.
“Errors were happening on a regular basis.”
That happens when you hire people because of what they are, not because of what they do. Not only is the individual incompetent, it destroys any standards of excellence, and any desire to excel on the part of the competent.
“…The FAA administrator resigned at the end of the Biden administration, so there is no permanent confirmed FAA administrator right now.””
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What can you expect from a leftist? They are top down driven. In their world, they need someone in authority to tell them what to do, and how to act.
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Does this bobblehead actually think the air traffic controllers at Reagan Washington National Airport, or any airport or center anywhere in the USA decided to be lackadaisical in their duties because the FAA Administrator was not a permanent appointee?
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Who wrote that copy? Greg?
It’s absolutely nauseating listen to Trump, take credit and at the same time, badmouthing former administrations for the lack of air traffic control.
I honestly I can’t believe and he’s pointing the finger at the air traffic controller. When obviously the helicopter pilot was at fault, the jet on final approach had Leeway
The air traffic controller gave the helicopter pilot clear instructions to go behind the jet after first asking if he can see them and getting a response with them saying yes, we can! As we mourn for the loss of the families
And the lives lost
It’s important to stay focused
On the task at hand.
Don’t you avoid President Trump the same way you avoid sour milk?
If that was not an outright lie, how did you manage to actually hear President Trump?
I smelled stink, and I had to look up and see where it was coming from.
BS.
You are addicted to making on-line comments disparaging President Trump. It is more important to you than your family, eating, and breathing, like any other addiction.
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You can no more avoid the compulsion to cut down President Trump for whatever childish reason drives you, than you could choose stop your own heartbeat. I have no idea what you get out of it, but can only speculate it gives you a momentary feeling of superiority.
HAHAHA! I love this comment! You truly made my day.
The irony of you accusing someone being addicted to on-line commenting is just delicious!
Thank you!
I am OK with it. I admit my addiction, and choose to do nothing about it.
What about you?
It’s like crack
I can’t get enough of it, and he keeps on delivering . Its his fault. They were still pulling body’s out and trump comes out blaming Obama. No class. Zero. He does all he can not to blame the helo pilots. They flew into the plane!!! He’s just a fool. His time is limited. He can’t stfu. Most of is picks carry baggage. Like him. Pull your head out for some fresh air. Do yourself a favor.
Live according to the 48 hour rule.
It says the news media knows NOTHING for at least 48 hours. And, any conclusions you come to based on their information is almost always wrong.
So… you know… well your normal amount of information.
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And, if you do not think lowering the controller hiring standards under the 0bama administration was a bad thing, I would be curious to hear your reasoning.
There is great wisdom in applying the 48 Hour Rule.
You know that people close to Trump say that he stinks. It’s really true. Lots of really old guys like him do. Not sure why, and don’t really want to know. I’ll bet Melania doesn’t even know why for very obvious reasons.
Greg used stink metaphorically. You are choosing a personal attack based on his physical properties.
Yeah… that is mature.
Now, dog may be onto something.There’s something about old people and their body chemistry.
He may be.
However, it is extremely childish to disparage someone for their physical properties.
LMAO. How many times has your man Trump done it? Almost day, pretty much. It’s his go-to way to disparage people.
That does not make it OK for you to emulate him.
And hey, I’m right there with GF on Trump. We refuse to normalize him. He’s cruel, brutal, petty, immature, vengeful, lazy, and a living example of all of the Seven Deadly Sins. In short, he’s basically just not decent person.
Sorry, but this is not Trump Derangement Syndrome. It’s reality, and the sooner he’s out of the picture the better.
I could tolerate a decent Republican as President (and have voted for many in my lifetime). That’s how our system works. But Trump? Nope. Never.
No one wants their kids to grow up to be like him, or to use him as a role model for their kids. And I’m sure that includes you, if you have any.
Never normalize Trump. He divides and poisons. Never. Resist.
“He’s cruel, brutal, petty, immature, vengeful, lazy, and a living example of all of the Seven Deadly Sins.”
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And, this differs from 0bama and Biden in what way exactly? (HINT: It does not. Both of those individuals were as cruel, petty, immature…. as Trump is, and more.)
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You voted for Republicans? Doubt it. Who was the last one you voted for at any level of Government? Oh… do not bother answering, it was Murkowski, wasn’t it? Yeah… a democrat hiding as a Republican. Very balanced of you.
Nah, it’s true.He is a pretty lousy human being. The fact that you support him says something about you, too.
I never said any of it was not true. But, he is just carrying on the tradition set by the majority of Presidents this century.
Old Yeller, you are wrong sometimes.
So you feel having a faa tower controller with epilepsy a good idea?
Jump to conclusions much? There are now reports that the control tower was not normally staffed. BTW Trump was discussing how hw rolled back the 44 dei faa hiring practices, and had to do it again because your Brandon had reimposed them. I agree with Trump, we need to have the strongest minded and psychologically sound in the control towers for public safety.
Not normal means they were understaffed, which is actually normal. They are understaffed nation wide. But that’s not why the plane crashed.
A tragedy like this requires at least two levels of failure. The challenge is to identify those failures before the bureaucracy gets fully engaged.
Not if it was terror related.
At least Pothole Pete is gone.
Who would notice? If that DEI hire’s response to disasters in the past is any indicator of future actions, he would show up in DC around President’s day at the earliest.
Exactly. We need to abolish DEI as the FAA has been implementing these policies and we’re now experiencing the fallout. We need to go to a meritorious system now, which Trump is doing.
Sixteen years. What a tragedy for those families awaiting their loved ones. RIP
I know. Could see them on final, then fireball. Horrifying.
I like MRAK. But saying this happened because the head of the FAA left 9 days ago is ridiculous.
MRAK did not say that. CNN did. – sd
MRAK didn’t claim this, it was CNN.
But MRAK is implying, without evidence, that DEI had something to do with this crash. Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. Either way, MRAK doesn’t know. Don’t have facts? Draw spurious conclusions!
The helicopter was advised of the PSA/American Eagle jet on approach to runway 33, however there was an American Airbus A319 on approach to runway 1 (3 mile final); the helo pilots probably saw that and assumed it was the regional jet.
And that was that.
The ONLY thing we can fault the FAA for is not having a more modernized ATC system. In Alaska we have the Capstone System + ADS-B which might have helped avoid this conflict; as the system would have flagged the PSA regional jet to the helo crew, and the PSA jet would have gotten an alert of the army helicopter. The current system used, nationally, is TCAS, which is unfortunately inhibited under 1,000 feet because it would be going bonkers on approach.
This is all true. You have to admit though that the controller incorrectly applied visual separation due to an incomplete traffic call and not notifying the jet of the helo location and that they were maintaining visual. Visual separation also should come with a directive such as “pass behind”.
The jet was on a final glide slope at 300 feet. They could do nothing.
This is not true. Had the American pilots been given a traffic alert they could have self-initiated a go-around to avoid the traffic. The American pilots were never given a traffic advisory or traffic alert. That responsibility rests with ATC. The helo pilot was told to maintain visual separation which is basically see-and-avoid. However the traffic call was incomplete never specifying the relative location in relative heading, distance, altitude, position relative to commonly known reporting point, etc. This left room for interpretation. Not good.
There is no GS on that RW.
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And, any pilot has full authority to ignore ATC if they have a safety reason to do so. That is true regardless of altitude or proximity to an airport.
The chopper pilot accepted responsibility at a visual separation. Tower asked him twice, he said I got this. He screwed up!
Yes Sir this is accurate. However the traffic call was incomplete and left room for misinterpretation. Very possible the helo pilot had a different aircraft in sight and never saw the American RJ. Also possible the helo was on night vision goggles which don’t have peripheral vision.
Ultimately the responsibility falls on FAA management. FAA management is well aware of the risks of allowing VFR aircraft to operate in the vicinity of and crossing flight paths of IFR commercial aircraft. This happens at Anchorage International all the time. It needs to stop.
It’s like when you are at a stop. Then pull right out in front of someone. Oh crap, sorry, I didn’t see you.
That is the current assumption being tossed around. The AA jet was on approach to a crosswind runway, not the main one. There was likely several aircraft on approach to the main runway, and the helo pilot looked down the Potomac and saw the aircraft there. Good possibility they had no idea an aircraft was approaching from over their left shoulder.
How would a “more modernized system” have prevented the collision?
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Data blocks indicated the system did what it was supposed to do, no?
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Could the same be said for the ATC who was reportedly working two positions due to short-staffing?
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Could the same be said for the DEI culture that led to an ATC working two positions due to short-staffing?
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What does a “more modernized system” even look like, what good is it when the workforce is infested with DEI hires and managers?
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Infested? Have a look at ‘https://mustreadalaska.com/faa-hiring-targets-people-with-psychiatric-problems-and-severe-mental-disabilities-urged-to-apply.system.
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That was written about a year ago.
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Kinda like the education industry, throw more money at it, hope it works better?
Trump’s just trying assign blame. The airport and the plane was doing what they were supposed to do. The chopper pilot misidentafied the plane with one that had just taken off. He is responsible. Nobody can fly his chopper but him. The system relies on him doing his job.
True. Now the question might be whether the controller over-relied on the chopper pilot. The electronic system recognized the problem, and triggered visual and audible alerts.
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What we’ve seen and heard so far is evidence of imminent collision, but no clear direction to the chopper pilot and/or the plane pilot to change altitude and heading immediately to avoid collision.
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Radar data blocks show plane and chopper converging and coming to the same altitude. Controller had about 22 seconds to separate them by giving the chopper pilot specific instructions for an immediate course and altitude change.
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Watch 22 seconds go by on the clock …long time.
The helicopter was apparently at 400 feet on a flight path across the approach end of the landing runway. If this is factual it’s insane particularly at night. Plenty of fault to go around. Absolutely a tragedy.
Sincere condolences and prayers for all of the victims of this tragedy….I’m so tired of the NTSB’s standard public statement which is always the same, one year, maybe two years to issue their final analysis. Some accidents’ causes will never be determined, some causes can legitimately take a year or more to determine, but not all…! The cause of this crash should be determined within 10 days! Some folks already know the cause of this crash.
Regardless of any ego, pride or reluctance to reveal the true facts, the tragedy remains. And the “so it never happens again” cliche too remains.
So there it is. The blackhawk pilot was a DEI hire. ‘https://www.npr.org/2025/01/30/nx-s1-5281246/pentagon-jet-military-helicopter-collision
Nobody wants to talk about it.
It’s time to admit women have no place in a cockpit. I hope SECDEF Hegseth will right this wrong.
What will you say when your heart surgeon walks in, and is a woman?
And what else is on your list that a woman can’t do?
I dare a woman to put out a campfire by peeing on it.
I think I know a few Alaskan gals who might be able to, but they’d probably need to shave their legs first.
Yeah. Top 20% of her class. The horror
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