Alerts Sign-up
As the investigation into the mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January proceeds, new details are emerging about the events leading to the tragedy. A report by the New York Times reveals that the US army pilot of the helicopter involved failed to follow key instructions from her co-pilot. This oversight, among other factors, contributed to the fatal crash with an American Airlines passenger plane.
Despite the helicopter being on an annual evaluation flight for Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, a critical error occurred when the helicopter flew too high and did not properly follow a directive to turn left, as suggested by Warrant Officer Eaves. The report indicates that critical communication breakdowns also played a role. At a pivotal moment, radio communication between air traffic control and the helicopter lapsed, preventing crucial instructions from being heard. It is also mentioned that Capt. Lobach's use of night-vision goggles might have impaired her judgment due to the bright urban lights.
The role of air traffic control has been scrutinized. Typically, controllers manage one type of traffic at a time, but on that day, one controller handled both helicopter and commercial air traffic, possibly due to atypical staffing. This took place earlier than the usual time for combined duties, indicating a deviation from standard protocol.
