Helicopter Crash in DC

[Copper]

A DC police helicopter joins the search now, a MD state police copter just stopped at Andrews

Nothing else in the air over DC

[89th]

My condo used to overlook Reagan (5 miles away) and of course there’s nonstop planes landing and taking off and also dozens of helicopters each night but rarely did they cross into the flight paths for Reagan. Either it’s deliberate or more likely an absolute fluke. Tragedy.

[Copper]

@89th said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

Incredible. January too. Reminded me of the Air Florida icy river crash in 1980 or so.

I remember that one, I left work early because of the snow

We watched Lennie Skutnick - the hero on live tv, an innocent bystander, he dove into the Potomac and rescued a passenger, maybe it was a stewardess

[89th]

Mid air collision between American Eagle 5342 (N709PS) and helo Army PAT-25 (VH-60), both aircraft in the Potomac off rwy 33

That is from the airport authority

[Copper]

@89th said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

off rwy 33

that's where the 3 helicopters appear to be searching

[89th]

[89th]

[Copper]

The flight position recording - ends over the Potomac

[jon-nyc]

Welcome to Pete Hegseth’s DoD.

[Jolly]

Little early with the horseshit, aren't you?

[jon-nyc]

You should see my worm collection.

[89th]

That’s from the pilot flying just behind the plane that crashed.

[89th]

Can see the helicopter flying south along the Potomac.

[89th]

[Horace]

That's just awful.

[Mik]

So the passenger jet crashed too, correct?

[89th]

Oh yes. Both aircraft in icy water. Explosion too. Very doubtful for the ~65 people

[89th]

@Copper said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

@89th said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

Incredible. January too. Reminded me of the Air Florida icy river crash in 1980 or so.

I remember that one, I left work early because of the snow

We watched Lennie Skutnick - the hero on live tv, an innocent bystander, he dove into the Potomac and rescued a passenger, maybe it was a stewardess

Yeah he kept helping people into life rings from the helicopter but when they came back for him, he was gone

[89th]

[89th]

Live tower audio. The helicopter was told to maintain visual separation and fly BEHIND the jet. Obviously it seems this is a major piloting issue by the army chopper. "Fly behind CRJ, visual sep" around 17:32, with background reaction voices at 17:49 or so.

https://archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-Twr-Jan-30-2025-0130Z.mp3

UPDATE: Better link for the audio. The helicopter pilot is heard at 0:10 "aircraft in sight, visual separation".