American Airlines CRJ-700 collides with helicopter near Reagan National (42 Viewers)

[DavidM]

There’s video online of the crash. It appears the helicopter flew into the plane.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/s/L4ztwFtX15

 

[superchuck500]

My niece lived in a condo on South Glebe Road in Arlington (it was a mixed use development so there was a Harris Teeter in the building) which basically overlooked the south area of the runway as it was right before crossing over the river into Alexandria. Having only been there once and it being nighttime, I can't get any bearings where this footage is coming from.

I can't believe, having seen the footage of the crash now, the helicopter didn't have a visual of the plane.

This is where it happened

 

[Madmarsha]

Yeah, I believe that's the Potomac Yard area you're describing.

Could be. I got the map up and see nothing labeled Potomac Yard but I am really bad at visualizing stuff like this (esp. in DC where I notoriously get lost every time I've ever driven there).

The video I have seen is from different locations - and I'm sure there are many cameras in that general area. If you can see the river and the activity is behind it, that's going to be from the DC or Maryland side. If the river is on the other side of the activity, it's taken from VA.

Only thing I can recognize what I'm looking at is a lit up Lincoln Memorial which, as I said, is not really a help for me. But it looks like that helicopter was traveling fast.

 

[superchuck500]

There’s video online of the crash. It appears the helicopter flew into the plane.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/s/L4ztwFtX15

Dang

 

[Maxp]

Surely there is ATC recordings calling the helicopter. There is no way that it could be missed.

 

[Madmarsha]

There’s video online of the crash. It appears the helicopter flew into the plane.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/s/L4ztwFtX15

That's what it looks like. I mean, the helicopter would be in the best position not only to have the best visual but also to make evasive moves, wouldn't it?

 

[superchuck500]

Could be. I got the map up and see nothing labeled Potomac Yard but I am really bad at visualizing stuff like this (esp. in DC where I notoriously get lost ever time I've ever driven there).


Only thing I can recognize what I'm looking at is a lit up Lincoln Memorial which, as I said, is not really a help for me. But it looks like that helicopter was traveling fast.

I see the video you’re referring to - that’s from the Kennedy Center, which would be on the DC side looking back to the south/southeast. You see the Lincoln Memorial and vehicle traffic on the bridges between DC and VA

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Fwiw, this may be the collision caught on cam:

 

[superchuck500]

That video is shocking. I hate wild speculation so I won’t because I don’t know enough about flying airplanes – and perspective can do weird things on the eyes. But it’s pretty shocking

 

[Madmarsha]

Fwiw, this may be the collision caught on cam:

Yep, that's the one from the Kennedy Center

 

[DavidM]

That's what it looks like. I mean, the helicopter would be in the best position not only to have the best visual but also to make evasive moves, wouldn't it?

Yeah. I think it could be deceptive, maybe. It appears the helicopter catches up from behind but it seems more likely they crossed paths. Thinking the plane is flying more so at an angle away from the camera and the helicopter more so left to right from that POV. At least trying to make sense of speed. If converging altitude was part of it, maybe the helicopter pilot didn’t have as clear of a sightline as it would seem.

 

[Madmarsha]

Three soldiers onboard the Blackhawk.

 

[Madmarsha]

That video is shocking. I hate wild speculation so I won’t because I don’t know enough about flying airplanes – and perspective can do weird things on the eyes. But it’s pretty shocking

Yeah, it's only from the perception of the plane coming in seemingly slower for imminent landing and not having any idea where on the plane the helicopter hits it. But it SEEMS like it just covers a lot of space quickly.

ETA: But I'm not speculating either where the fault is. We don't know, for instance, if the plane was coming in on the correct runway.

ETA: Water temp estimated 37 degrees

 

[Wisco Steve]

4 people plucked from the water (so far) according to reports...

 

[Maxp]

The landing speed of that airliner would be close to the cruising speed of a Blackhawk. But I don't know what speeds helicopters fly over congested areas like cities. I mostly fly in them over water.