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Report says staffing in control tower was 'not normal' at time of mid-air crash
(www.scrippsnews.com)
this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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The data shows the helicopter well above the maximum altitude - 350 feet instead of 200. I don’t think the staffing was the problem.
Another pair of eyes might have caught it and called out "hey fuckass, this helo is getting too close, go around". One person managing too much means they miss things.
Someone did tell the Blackhawk to pass behind the plane prior to the collision. The helo pilots probably thought they were talking about another plane in the airspace, which is always very crowded.
Yeah, and the other pair of eyes might have noticed them not doing that.
That may well be one thing that's wrong, but I'm going to guess that normally, one still wouldn't have a regional jet flying directly over a helicopter with just 150 feet of vertical separation.
EDIT: I was waiting to see if VASAviation -- a YouTube channel that puts up ATC radio recordings -- would put up logs for this one. Looks like they have; three separate videos.
Audio of MID-AIR CRASH into Potomac River | Regional Jet and Black Hawk Helicopter
Last Radio from Army Helicopter | Mid-Air Crash with American Airlines CRJ-700
Related: Ronald Reagan Airport CLOSED After Mid-Air Crash | All Planes Diverted
EDIT2: Might be more analysis going on on news or aviation sites, but as per the recordings, the helicopter was notified about the plane, said that they had the plane in sight and had requested and was granted clearance for visual separation with it. My understanding is that that places some level of responsibility on the pilot:
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap7_section_2.html
I don't think that the above happened in the recording.
I don't think that that happened (at least, not explicitly, though there were multiple transmissions to the helicopter about the plane; I don't know if there's specific terminology that has to be used).
I heard on Democracy Now that communications done to helicopters and communications to planes are typically done by separate individuals. The communicating to both aircrafts involved in the collision was one person.
In light of the information you've provided I think it should be said, staffing wasn't the only problem.
So often tragedies happen for multiple small reasons that each alone would not cause an accident.
Staffing has been a problem for ATC for some time, so it definitely contributed to the Swiss cheese