CRJ700 – Black Hawk Collision Zone Used by Military Helicopters

An American Eagle Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines and a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided on January 29 over the Potomac River near Washington DC. The area is heavily used by military rotorcraft, with helicopters frequently flying at low altitudes along the river’s eastern bank.

The CRJ700, operating as American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s runway 33 when the aircraft collided with the military Black Hawk. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft was about 0.5 miles from the runway when the CRJ700 collided with the Black Hawk. The impact appeared to send both aircraft into the river.

John Goglia, an aviation safety consultant and former National Transportation Safety Board member, described the heavy helicopter traffic in the area. “I watch those helicopters travel up and down that river every single day. They always come up on the right side,” he said.

Airspace Activity and Flight Paths

Washington National Airport is located in Virginia on the west bank of the Potomac River. Most commercial flights use the airport’s main 7,169-foot-long runway 01/19, which runs parallel to the river. Aircraft on that route typically follow the river’s west bank. However, regional jets sometimes land on the shorter 5,204-foot-long runway 33. This approach requires flying north along the east bank of the Potomac before turning northwest across the river.

Flight-tracking data indicated the collision happened shortly after the CRJ700 made this northwest turn. The airspace where the incident occurred is commonly used by military helicopters, including Black Hawks and Bell-Boeing V-22 Ospreys, which frequently operate at low altitudes.

Investigation and Flight Safety Concerns

The investigation into the collision is ongoing. One of the key questions is whether the UH-60 helicopter was equipped with a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which is mandatory for passenger jets. However, the system only works if both aircraft have it installed and functioning.

Data from multiple flight tracking sources, including FlightRadar24 and ADS-B Exchange, suggests the UH-60, identified by the call sign PAT25, was not operating with an active flight transponder at the time of the incident.

The collision occurred in the same airspace where helicopters routinely operate, raising concerns about air traffic safety. Authorities are now working to determine what led to the crash and whether additional safety measures are needed in the area.

Source: FlightGlobal