PSA 5342

The most deadly airline incident in the United States since 9/11 has occurred

Last night and this morning, feelings of shock and sadness fill us in the aviation community and the nation. PSA5342 operating from Wichita, KS to Washington, DC was hit by an Army UH-60 “Blackhawk” helicopter while it was on final approach. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, and there are believed to be no survivors. 60 passengers, 2 pilots, and 2 flight attendants were onboard PSA5342. There were 3 crew aboard the Army helicopter.

As the recovery effort continues in the Potomac, here are some quick points of fact and understanding that we should focus on and can share with one another:

• The airliner was operated by PSA Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines. PSA provides “American Eagle” branded service solely to American.
  

• The aircraft operated by PSA was a Bombardier CRJ-700 “regional jet”. PSA flights use the callsign “Blue Streak” on ATC frequencies, and when viewed on ADS-B monitoring websites and services, PSA’s three-letter-identifier is “JIA” (which hearkens back to PSA’s origins as Jetstream International Airlines).
  

• There has been much confusion (as there always is over regional carriers) as to who operated this flight. As far as flight numbers on a passenger ticket is concerned, this was American Airlines 5342 ICT-DCA. However, this was not a flight operated by “mainline” American Airlines.
  

• The UH-60 was operating as a training flight under callsign “PAT25” from Davison AAF (Ft. Belvoir). The helicopter flight called up DCA Tower to transition south of the airport through the approach corridor and was given clearance to do to.
  

• ATC audio has been captured and widely shared across media. It has also been edited in some cases due to the media confusing the “who’s who” in the transmissions. Here is what we can hear and know when listening:

  • DCA was in a configuration of 01/33 (landing and departing BOTH runways 01 and 33). Most arrivals are using the “Mount Vernon Visual 01”. This approach follows the Potomac River northbound to DCA. Some aircraft are asked by DCA Tower to “sidestep” to runway 33 off of this approach to aid in traffic balancing between the two runways.

  • Just prior to the accident several VFR aircraft are being handled by DCA Tower during a busy arrival and departure push. The VFR aircraft are being pointed out by Tower and told to maintain visual separation.

  • PSA5342 checked in on the “Mount Vernon Visual 1”, and was asked by DCA Tower if they could land on runway 33. PSA5342 accepted the request.

  • DCA Tower pointed out PSA5342 to PAT25 “south of the Wilson Bridge". PAT25 said they had the aircraft in sign and had “visual separation approved” by DCA Tower

  • DCA Tower calls PAT25 and asks, “Do you have the CRJ in sight?”. In the ATC recording you can hear the rapid beeping of the “Conflict Alert” alarm on DCA Tower’s radar equipment. DCA Tower tells the helicopter to “…pass behind the CRJ.”

  • In the next transmission, DCA Tower is giving landing clearance to American 472 (the second flight in sequence behind PSA5342), and you can other hear other controllers (that are in the tower cab) in the background exclaim as the collision occurs. The conflict alert alarm is also audible.

  • American 3130 is the traffic following PSA5342 to DCA, and cleared to land on runway 01. They are told to go around. Following aircraft are told to do the same. The airport is subsequently closed for the emergency.

News Headlines are Misleading (and Wrong)

Widely seen video from a few vantage points show the UH-60 collided with the CRJ700. Yet, all I keep reading last night and still this morning was something to the effect of “Airliner Collides with Army Helicopter”, where the ordering is clearly wrong. News copy editors and headline writers are making a horrible choice here, as the first glance reading seems to indicate that the CRJ700 did not have the “right of way.”

Let’s be clear about some things that are evident from video and ATC transmissions:

• The CRJ700 was cleared to land on runway 33

• The UH-60 was asked if they had the CR700 in sight, twice.

• The UH-60 was responsible to maintain visual separation from the CRJ700.

• At no time was the UH-60 traffic pointed out to the CRJ700 most likely because the helicopter was not within visual range — it was behind the CRJ700.

• The CRJ700 was not told to remain clear of the UH-60 (for the above reason)

This Accident is NOT Political - It Is Tragic

Because of the fragile state our country is in with the upheaval caused by some political actions and transitions of administrative power, many are ascribing cause to recent changes in DOT and FAA leadership. Others are blaming lack of air traffic controllers (something that has been at issue for years over the last two Presidential administrations).

However, right now is not the time to focus and pontificate on those issues. We need to let the NTSB and the FAA do their job. We need to support our colleagues and families affected by this tragedy.