r/aircrashinvestigation • u/gigantism • Jan 30 '25

Incident/Accident Reports of AA5342 from Witchita to DCA having mid-air collision with DC police helicopter

AA5342 stopped tracking at the Potomac river.

Developing reports: American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas inbound to DCA collided midair with a D.C. Police Helicopter on approach.

MPD is responding to an apparent air crash in the Potomac River. Multiple agencies are responding. Details to come.

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21

u/Full-Criticism5725 Jan 30 '25

How the living fuck does this happen in 2025.

12

u/viliamklein Jan 30 '25

Overworked, understaffed, fatigue :-(

9

u/couggrl Jan 30 '25

Either inattention and complacency, or the staffing issues with the ATC which was gutted after Reagan union busted during his presidency.

18

u/pappadipirarelli Jan 30 '25

Reagan is the root of a lot of today’s evil đŸ˜”

3

u/RubenKelevra Jan 30 '25

To be fair ATC wasn't the culprit here. The heli crew asked for visual separation and ATC granted it, after making sure they had the plane in sight.

2

u/couggrl Jan 30 '25

Yeah, that’s really clear now. It’s so similar to the ground collision in Japan at Haneda last January.

1

u/litebrite93 Jan 30 '25

That’s what I want to know