Air traffic controller provides insight into radio DC-sector crash: NPR

On Thursday morning, Arlington, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near the Washington National Airport has an attempts to search and seek around the debris site in the Potomac River.

Caroline Coaster/AP

Hide caption

Togle caption

Caroline Coaster/AP

This is the initial hours in the investigation what happened Midar collision Outside Washington on Wednesday night between an American Airlines regional jet and an army black Hawk Helicopter, DC will be a short time ago when investigators can give a clear answer, but the air traffic controller audio and radar reviewed by NPR can be given a clear answer. Provided some insight and immediately before and immediately some insight. After tragic accident.

The respondents are still working to recover the bodies of 67 victims – 64 people and three are riding on Black Hawk. Jet’s passengers were Members of US Figure Skating Team, many Russian Figure SkatersCoach and family members, according to US Figure Skating and Russian state media.

First minute from the collision, controllers may be instructed to direct several aircraft on their radio and land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Between this heavy but normal traffic for the busy airport, the Black Hawk helicopter reaches near the aircraft shared with several aircraft that make their way inside and outside the Reagan. An aircraft, the American Airlines Bombardier CRJ regional jet, takes 64 people, as the closest to the helicopter on the radar as it makes its approach to the land for Reagan.

Within 30 seconds of recording reviewed by NPR, military helicopter (referred to as Pat 25 on the radio) is told by Reagan’s controllers that the aircraft is coming and says, “Traffic to the south of the Woodro Bridge, a CRJ is 1,200.

The helicopter pilot admits that it sees an upcoming aircraft, but it is not clear whether it is looking at the right aircraft. Wednesday night’s situation was dark, but clear. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump Said that The crew members on the helicopter were wearing night vision goggles, which could restrict the user’s vision.

The Black Hawk Pilot is replied on the radio, “Pat 25, there is traffic in sight, requests visual separation.” “Visual separation” means that the pilot accepts the upcoming aircraft and informs the air traffic controller that they will avoid reaching very close to the aircraft. The tower then approves visual separation.

But about 40 seconds later, according to the flight radar, the helicopter and airplane continue on the same route.

As two aircraft get close to each other, an air traffic controller examines with a military helicopter, asks the pilot, “PAT25, do you have CRJ?” The air traffic controller then asks the helicopter pilot to “back” the American Airlines Jet.

Richard Levi, a retired American Airlines pilot and airline, Told NPR Here now The controller was doing “a magnificent work” guiding aircraft through the wind and found no mistake with the instructions that the controller gave to both the helicopter and American airlines jet.

The helicopter pilot investigates saying that the aircraft is in sight and again requests “visual separation”, which is provided. But two aircraft continue on the same path. Later seconds, gaps and screams can be heard as a helicopter and jet colliding with air traffic control tower.