Air Traffic Control Supervisor Allowed Controller To Leave Their Post Just Before Mid-Air Collision

Posted • January 31, 2025: On Friday, reports broke that an air traffic control supervisor allowed a controller to leave their post early at Reagan National Airport, just before the fatal mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. According to NBC Washington, one controller was left to handle both airplane and helicopter traffic on that fateful night. Reportedly, it is “allowable” but not “optimal” for one person to perform both jobs. Matt reported that a preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report detailed that staffing was “not normal” at Reagan Airport when the crash occurred. Additionally, there are reports that the helicopter may have been on an unapproved route before the crash, as Matt noted. Since then, the FAA has indefinitely closed routes to most helicopter traffic near Reagan National Airport as an investigation continues. (…)

• More at: Townhall - There’s Been a Disturbing Update About the Fatal D.C. Airplane & Helicopter Crash
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2025/01/31/supervisor-allowed-an-air-traffic-controller-to-leave-shift-early-the-night-of-fatal-plane-helo-collision-n2651451
NBC Washington: Concerns about DCA air traffic safety grow as region mourns crash victims
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/live-updates-black-boxes-recovered-victims-remembered-in-potomac-river-aircrash/3831805/
Fox News: Two planes aborted landings at DCA due to helicopters in flight path in week before crash: report
https://www.foxnews.com/us/two-planes-aborted-landings-dca-due-helicopters-flight-path-week-before-crash-report
Washington Post: Helicopters flying along Potomac frequently pose dangers to passenger jets
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/30/dc-helicopters-potomac-river-dangers/
RedState: What the Latest, Shocking Video of the DCA Mid-Air Collision Appears to Show
https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/01/31/new-what-the-latest-shocking-video-of-dca-mid-air-collision-appears-to-show-n2185036
Rumble: What The Latest, Shocking Video Of The DCA Mid-Air Collision Appears To Show
https://rumble.com/v6fk27v-what-the-latest-shocking-video-of-the-dca-mid-air-collision-appears-to-show.html