American Airlines Collision: Army Helicopter Warned Twice Before Fatal Crash

After American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter collided mid-air, officials shared insight into the respective pilots’ communication with air traffic control.

More has come to light about the fatal collision over the Potomac River.

Days after American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter collided mid-air in Washington, D.C., officials shared that the military aircraft had been warned by air traffic control about the incoming plane.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Bryce Banning confirmed during a Feb. 1 press conference that the control tower requested the regional jet switch runways at 8:43 p.m. local time. As he explained, “After a brief discussion between the crew, they agreed to Runway 33.”

At 8:46 p.m., the tower informed the Black Hawk helicopter that the traffic nearby was the airplane “just south of the Wilson Bridge” at 1,200 feet that was “circling to Runway 33.” At 8:47 p.m., Banning said an audible radio transmission asked the helicopter if the plane—which carried 60 passengers and four crew members—was “in sight.”

After three seconds, the helicopter was directed to “pass behind” the plane, Banning explained, adding that 16 seconds later, the plane’s crew “had a verbal reaction,” and the Flight Data Recorder showed the aircraft began tilting the nose upward before the air traffic control heard “sounds of impact.” (All 67 passengers were killed.)

NTSB board member Todd Inman also shared insight into the Black Hawk’s safety protocol.

“We can verify it was on a training flight that would utilize night vision goggles,” he said during the press conference. “We do not know at this time if the night vision goggles were actively being worn, nor what the setting may be.”

However, he emphasized, “Further investigation should be able to let us know if that occurred and what factor it may play in the overall accident.”