Cause of deadly DC crash investigated

Investigators are looking for the cause of the fatal collision between a passenger plane and a helicopter near Washington DC, including
claims that there was a staffing shortage at Reagan Airport at the time

American Airlines Flight 5342
Bombardier CRJ700, 64 on board
Length: 32 metres

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Three on board
Length: 19.8 metres (fuselage)

FINAL MOMENTS
8:45pm (01:45GMT): Flight 5342 approaches Reagan Airport. Air traffic controllers ask crew to land on Runway 33, which pilots acknowledge

8:46pm: Helicopter’s pilot requests “visual separation”, meaning helicopter would take responsibility for maintaining safe distance from plane. Air traffic control approves request

8:47pm: Air traffic control asks helicopter if they have jet in sight and tells pilot to pass behind it. Helicopter crew responds “The aircraft is in sight”

8:48pm: Both aircraft collide and crash into Potomac River. All 67 people killed

Potomac River
WASHINGTON DC
VIRGINIA
MARYLAND
Path of Army helicopter
Path of American Airlines jet
ROUTE 4
Collision
0.6 miles
1km
Reagan National Airport
White House
1
2
3
1
1
2
2
3
Route 4: Air corridor where helicopters are permitted to fly
Black Hawk reportedly flying above 300 feet instead of below 200 feet as mandated at time of collision
U.S.

Sources: FlightRadar24, FAA, ADS-B Exchange, Reuters, NYT, OpenStreetmap
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