Looks like a helicopter and a plane collided in DC. So sad

Helicopter and plane crash in DC. Video here. Pilots can respond, but how is this possible? pic.twitter.com/OiTsLCDWJa

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 30, 2025

What the heck was the Blackhawk doing?

Based on what Ive read this morning, it sounds like the Blackhawk misidentified the aircraft the ATC was warning them about, leading to the crash. Horrific

packgrad said:

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What the heck was the Blackhawk doing?

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In my experience it was probably a VIP transport to/from the Pentagon.

Both aircraft should have received traffic advisory warnings and resolution authority. In everyday terms: the aircraft transponders should have been "talking" to each other and alerting the crew of traffic inside of 1000' and again inside of 500' with immediate action required.

My best guess is one of the pilots didn't follow the resolution authority (maybe got confused) and drove into the other aircraft.

Terrible situation all the way around. I feel awful for everyone involved.

Terrible news.

Jesus.

Gulfstream4 said:

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packgrad said:

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What the heck was the Blackhawk doing?

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In my experience it was probably a VIP transport to/from the Pentagon.

Both aircraft should have received traffic advisory warnings and resolution authority. In everyday terms: the aircraft transponders should have been "talking" to each other and alerting the crew of traffic inside of 1000' and again inside of 500' with immediate action required.

My best guess is one of the pilots didn't follow the resolution authority (maybe got confused) and drove into the other aircraft.

Terrible situation all the way around. I feel awful for everyone involved.

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Gulf, assuming you have flown into and out of there, are you aware of a greater intensity of Blackhawk helicopter activity around DC and specifically along the Potomac over the last 4-5 years?

Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

Werewolf said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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packgrad said:

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What the heck was the Blackhawk doing?

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In my experience it was probably a VIP transport to/from the Pentagon.

Both aircraft should have received traffic advisory warnings and resolution authority. In everyday terms: the aircraft transponders should have been "talking" to each other and alerting the crew of traffic inside of 1000' and again inside of 500' with immediate action required.

My best guess is one of the pilots didn't follow the resolution authority (maybe got confused) and drove into the other aircraft.

Terrible situation all the way around. I feel awful for everyone involved.

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Gulf, assuming you have flown into and out of there, are you aware of a greater intensity of Blackhawk helicopter activity around DC and specifically along the Potomac over the last 4-5 years?

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That entire Northeast Corridor, from Baltimore to NY is heavily congested. Through in bad weather during the winter and it can be challenging.

Gulfstream4 said:

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Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

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. Is the plane's system dependent on the helicopter's to communicate? Or can they independently detect and advise/alter path? Forgive my ignorance.

packgrad said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

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. Is the plane's system dependent on the helicopter's to communicate? Or can they independently detect and advise/alter path? Forgive my ignorance.

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From an expert on that system on the news this morning, they said both aircraft need TCAS.

Have to say this is why Reagan is my least favorite airport I've ever flown into. It's a ride

hokiewolf said:

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packgrad said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

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. Is the plane's system dependent on the helicopter's to communicate? Or can they independently detect and advise/alter path? Forgive my ignorance.

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From an expert on that system on the news this morning, they said both aircraft need TCAS.

Have to say this is why Reagan is my least favorite airport I've ever flown into. It's a ride

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Completely off topic, but its the opposite for me (as a passenger, never flown an aircraft myself). A descent into the DC skyline is fantastic view. Its up there with Salt Lake as one of my favorites visually.

packgrad said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

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. Is the plane's system dependent on the helicopter's to communicate? Or can they independently detect and advise/alter path? Forgive my ignorance.

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My understanding is no. Both aircraft would need operational Transponders to receive traffic advisories.

The CRJ on final approach has the right of way. Reported ATC advised the helo twice of the traffic on final approach.

The pilot of the helo reported traffic insight but it could be very easy to misidentify lights on the ground/bridges/buildings…etc. with the approach and landing lights on the CRJ.

Just a terrible accident. Sometimes we are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Gulfstream4 said:

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Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

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That does seem odd a helo flying in/out of one of the busiest airports in the country wouldn't have that.

We're flying out to Vegas tomorrow and the wife is anxious so that's no bueno, even though it's just a tragic accident and not mechanical.

wolf howl said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

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That does seem odd a helo flying in/out of one of the busiest airports in the country wouldn't have that.

We're flying out to Vegas tomorrow and the wife is anxious so that's no bueno, even though it's just a tragic accident and not mechanical.

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Y'all will be fine. I suggest a stiff drink or three, haha!

Have a great trip.

I am interested to know if the helicopter crew had a lot of time together or because this was a training exercise there was less operational experience, especially in the helicopter corridor around Reagan.

Can't imagine what this guy is feeling.

https://apple.news/AUqbuy1_0SXCYJov02tfsVA

jkpackfan said:

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Can't imagine what this guy is feeling.

https://apple.news/AUqbuy1_0SXCYJov02tfsVA

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I can't imagine. A combination of blessed and tortured by blessing?
So sad.

packgrad said:

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jkpackfan said:

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Can't imagine what this guy is feeling.

https://apple.news/AUqbuy1_0SXCYJov02tfsVA

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I can't imagine. A combination of blessed and tortured by blessing?
So sad.

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Yep and he'll live with that forever.

jkpackfan said:

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Can't imagine what this guy is feeling.

https://apple.news/AUqbuy1_0SXCYJov02tfsVA

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Dude should buy a lotto ticket today. He's one lucky guy.

wolf howl said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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Reported the Helo did not have Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that would have advised the pilot of traffic.

I don't know anything about the Blackhawk but that seems odd to me.

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That does seem odd a helo flying in/out of one of the busiest airports in the country wouldn't have that.

We're flying out to Vegas tomorrow and the wife is anxious so that's no bueno, even though it's just a tragic accident and not mechanical.

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Something I read this morning that might help - this is the first commercial aviation disaster with fatalities in the US since 2009. Roughly 150 million commercial flights have happened between now and then. Those are lottery odds of something happening on your flight.

President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

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Air traffic control is a stressful job. These people are highly trained and highly regulated. This is not a political issue. I'm disappointed that it's going to turn into one.

Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

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Probably not a good idea to make this political. Not sure when the air traffic controllers were hired but it's a serious job and politics don't play a role.

Gulfstream4 said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

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Air traffic control is a stressful job. These people are highly trained and highly regulated. This is not a political issue. I'm disappointed that it's going to turn into one.

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ATC is a very stressful job, no doubt about that. But the woke hiring practices at the FAA have been a disaster from the top down.

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Your certain that those working that night were hired under the Biden admin?

wolf5 said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

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Air traffic control is a stressful job. These people are highly trained and highly regulated. This is not a political issue. I'm disappointed that it's going to turn into one.

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ATC is a very stressful job, no doubt about that. But the woke hiring practices at the FAA have been a disaster from the top down.

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Your certain that those working that night were hired under the Biden admin?

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No not at all. This seems like just a terrible accident.

wolf5 said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

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Air traffic control is a stressful job. These people are highly trained and highly regulated. This is not a political issue. I'm disappointed that it's going to turn into one.

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ATC is a very stressful job, no doubt about that. But the woke hiring practices at the FAA have been a disaster from the top down.

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Your certain that those working that night were hired under the Biden admin?

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that's irrelevant, these folks are highly trained. The bigger issue is lack of investment in improving the ATC system.

ATC didn't tell whoever the dumbass was that was flying the Blackhawk to fly into a plane. How the **** can you not see a plane from a helicopter?

griff17matt said:

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ATC didn't tell whoever the dumbass was that was flying the Blackhawk to fly into a plane. How the **** can you not see a plane from a helicopter?

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It was night making it easy to misidentify aircraft landing lights with lights on the ground/bridges/buildings…etc. He was probably looking at the wrong thing and thinking it was landing traffic.

wolf5 said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

---

Air traffic control is a stressful job. These people are highly trained and highly regulated. This is not a political issue. I'm disappointed that it's going to turn into one.

---

ATC is a very stressful job, no doubt about that. But the woke hiring practices at the FAA have been a disaster from the top down.

---

Your certain that those working that night were hired under the Biden admin?

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At this point, nobody here knows...

Now, do you agree with the practice of DEI hirings, as laid out by certain policies with government and/or private sector.

caryking said:

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wolf5 said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

---

Air traffic control is a stressful job. These people are highly trained and highly regulated. This is not a political issue. I'm disappointed that it's going to turn into one.

---

ATC is a very stressful job, no doubt about that. But the woke hiring practices at the FAA have been a disaster from the top down.

---

Your certain that those working that night were hired under the Biden admin?

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At this point, nobody here knows...

Now, do you agree with the practice of DEI hirings, as laid out by certain policies with government and/or private sector.

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*** does DEI have to do with a plane crash?

hokiewolf said:

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wolf5 said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Gulfstream4 said:

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President Trump just dunked on Pete Buttigieg and the "bull$#*+" woke policies that infected the FAA the last four years.

---

Air traffic control is a stressful job. These people are highly trained and highly regulated. This is not a political issue. I'm disappointed that it's going to turn into one.

---

ATC is a very stressful job, no doubt about that. But the woke hiring practices at the FAA have been a disaster from the top down.

---

Your certain that those working that night were hired under the Biden admin?

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that's irrelevant, these folks are highly trained. The bigger issue is lack of investment in improving the ATC system.

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I agree keep investing into the ATC https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-begins-investing-1b-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-air-traffic-control-system

griff17matt said:

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ATC didn't tell whoever the dumbass was that was flying the Blackhawk to fly into a plane. How the **** can you not see a plane from a helicopter?

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its actually quite possible if their training run involved night vision. the lights around reagan are numerous and bright! with NV on, you get a ton of starburst and things tend to blend a little while youre using the ground for reference. if they were preparing for landing then i would bet the operators were looking at systems and readings.

like most things, i think this will end up being bad communication but i do want to know what the status of the anti-collision systems that were on the two aircraft. this was a last minute runway switch, plus a pre-planned route for the helicopter and i havent heard any audio that plays the response from the blackhawk to the atc acknowledging the atc instructions. on the surface, this seems like a horrible and preventable accident.