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Since the deadly mid-air crash Wednesday night at the Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.that killed 67 people, disturbing details are surfacing, which indicate there were multiple serious issues at this particular airport.
The New York Times revealed that the air traffic control tower at Reagan was understaffed by about 30%, and on the night of the crash, one person was doing the work that two people typically do.
A passenger jet operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, which originated from Wichita, Kanas, was coming in for landing Wednesday night when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter flew into its path. Both the plane and the helicopter then plummeted from the sky and landed in the Potomac River, killing 64 people aboard the plane and 3 soldiers aboard the Army helicopter.
Now the Washington Post has announced that a similar crash nearly occurred just one day earlier.
From the Washington Post: Just 24 hours before the collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday, another jet trying to land there had to make a second approach after a helicopter appeared near its flight path, according to an audio recording from air traffic control.
That plane, Republic Airways Flight 4514, eventually landed safely, flight tracker maps show.
Journalist Nick Sortor shared a radar video and explained, “AA4514 can be seen on radar having to go around a make a second attempt, and is currently under investigation. This should NOT be happening!”
🚨 #BREAKING: Just 24 HOURS before an American Airlines flight collided with a Blackhawk at Reagan National Airport, ANOTHER American flight had to abort landing due to a helicopter crossing its flight path at the same airport
AA4514 can be seen on radar having to go around a… pic.twitter.com/kecSr9V8WP
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 31, 2025
Why are there so many helicopters buzzing around in the same airspace used by commercial flights?
Kyle Salewski shared a video after the crash Wednesday night and explained, “I took this video 6 days ago leaving Reagan International Airport and thought it was kind of crazy seeing these choppers right next to us. I wonder if it was something like this that caused the collision tonight.”
I took this video 6 days ago leaving Reagan International Airport and thought it was kind of crazy seeing these choppers right next to us. I wonder if it was something like this that caused the collision tonight. pic.twitter.com/0I2GGTM7hS
— Kyle Salewski (@Sa_Les_Ski) January 30, 2025
In an ABC News report Thursday night, it was revealed that the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter appeared to be flying at 350 feet, when it should have been under 200 feet.
WATCH BELOW:
As investigators search for the cause of America’s worst air disaster in nearly two decades, early flight data shows the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter appeared to be flying at 350 feet, when it should have been under 200 feet. @GioBenitez has the latest. https://t.co/qsUdR1dfA0 pic.twitter.com/SCTN45rWkZ
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) January 31, 2025
On Tuesday, Republic Airways Flight 4514 alerted the air traffic control tower that it had to “go-around” the airport due to a helicopter near its flight path. It eventually landed safely. https://t.co/RqPGl2i1m6
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 30, 2025
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