Breaking News. Airline collision at DCA.
Plane Crash into Potomac
- Thread starter stgislander
- Start date
AA Flight 5342 from Wichita on final approach to DCA collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac.
Sounds like airplane and helicopter were heading for the same runway.
TPD
the poor dad
That was my thought as well. I remember that well.
WingsOfGold
Well-Known Member
Shame, sounds like the helo was at fault............ or maybe ATC. 
glhs837
Power with Control
From Redditt, its being said that the helo had just acknowledged to ATC, who told them to pass behind the aircraft, that they visually had the "traffic", but speculation is that they were looking at something else. Crowded airspace at night is tough. My early days spent a lot of hours as aft observer out of Moffet where we had SFO and Oakland to the north and San Jose to the south.
I just can't quite get why it was IN that corridor at all.Shame, sounds like the helo was at fault............ or maybe ATC.
Yeah. Unless they were planning on landing at Pentagon, I can’t imagine why they would be that close to the other airport. Even on a training flight, they should’ve given the air space a wide berth.
I saw a post on another forum from a guy that appeared to know what he was talking about...said it was a VH-60 (VIP transport variant) so it was probably taking off with someone important or had brought in someone important earlier and was departing again. Senior defense dept official?...senior officer?..who knows yet. Guy that posted said that the VH-60 pilots were selected from the best...
Also saw speculation that the 60 pilot did ack ATC as having visual contact...but they're thinking he might have been focused on the wrong plane.
