US President Donald Trump claimed that the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a airplane close to Reagan Nationwide Airport in Washington was “flying properly above the permitted altitude.”
A mid-air collision occurred between an American Airways airplane and a US Military Black Hawk helicopter close to Reagan Nationwide Airport outdoors Washington, DC on Wednesday night time. The collision resulted in each plane crashing into the Potomac River. US authorities have confirmed that every one 67 individuals are feared to be useless.
In a submit on his social media platform, Reality Social, Trump mentioned that the plane had exceeded the 200-foot restrict, suggesting that this incident performed a key issue within the crash.
Sharing a submit on the social media platform Reality Social, Trump wrote, “The Blackhawk helicopter was flying too excessive, by loads. It was far above the 200-foot restrict. That is probably not too difficult to know, is it???”
In the meantime, greater than 40 our bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River following the airplane crash, officers confirmed to The Hill’s companion station NewsNation.
Restoration divers had been specializing in salvaging the plane and components from the Potomac River on Friday as investigators examined the collision, Washington hearth officers mentioned, in keeping with The New York Occasions report.
Notably, a day earlier, The New York Occasions in a report mentioned that the army helicopter that collided with an American Airways regional jet on Wednesday night time appeared to have been flying too excessive and outdoors its accepted flight path on the time of the crash.
Citing sources, the report mentioned that the Military Black Hawk helicopter was meant to fly at a decrease altitude and in a distinct space whereas navigating the congested airspace round Reagan Nationwide Airport.
Earlier than a helicopter can enter any busy business airspace, it should get the approval of an air visitors controller. On this case, the pilot of the helicopter requested the air visitors controller for permission to make use of a particular, predetermined route that lets helicopters fly no greater than 200 toes and that hugs the financial institution on the east facet of the Potomac River, a location that will have let it keep away from the American Airways airplane, The New York Occasions reported.
The requested route, often known as Route four at Reagan, was a route acquainted to each the air visitors controller and the helicopter pilot. The pilot visually recognized the American Airways airplane, and the controller directed the helicopter to comply with the assigned route and keep behind the plane.
Nonetheless, in keeping with people briefed on the state of affairs, the pilot didn’t adhere to the deliberate path. As an alternative of sustaining an altitude under 200 toes, the helicopter was flying above 300 toes and was not less than half a mile off target when it collided with the jet.
