Latest news with #SikorskyH-60
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ground stop briefly issued at Reagan airport; delays expected to continue
Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The FAA issued a full ground stop that halted all air traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for about an hour Friday morning, but delays because of weather will continue through midnight, officials said. "Airport volume" led the Federal Aviation Administration to briefly issue the directive around 7:30 a.m. EST, two days following a deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional flight and U.S. military helicopter. "Departures to Ronald Reagan Washington National are delayed [an] average [of] 62 mins due to low ceilings," the FAA wrote in an update, adding some flights had been delayed up to 143 minutes because of the weather. Officials continued recovery efforts Friday morning, warning members of the public not to touch any debris they encounter from the collision between American Eagle flight 5342 and the military helicopter. "If you believe you have information related to the recovery efforts in the Potomac or Anacostia Rivers or on the shore, immediately call 911. Do not touch or remove the item(s). Following this guidance is critical to supporting the impacted families & investigation," the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments wrote on X and Facebook. So far, 40 of the 67 bodies involved in the crash have so far been recovered. Authorities on Thursday confirmed they have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the Bombardier-made CRJ700 aircraft. The two devices are commonly referred to as the black boxes. Black boxes from the U.S. Army Sikorsky H-60 helicopter have not yet been recovered, CNN reported, citing sources within the National Transportation Safety Board. The New York Times published a report Friday alleging the military helicopter involved in Wednesday's deadly mid-air collision near the airport may have been flying at a higher-than-permitted altitude at the time of the crash, citing information from four people with knowledge of the situation but who were not permitted to speak publicly about it. President Donald Trump on Friday also said the helicopter was flying to high although it wasn't immediately clear if his comments came in response to the New York Times piece or from an official briefing. "The Blackhawk helicopter was flying too high, by a lot. It was far above the 200-foot limit. That's not really too complicated to understand, is it?," Trump wrote Truth social media platform. Authorities have confirmed Air Traffic Controller staffing within the airport's tower was "not normal" on the night of the collision. Almost one year ago, the FAA launched a program to recruit and retain new air traffic controllers in an effort to curb high attrition and transfer rates in the profession across the country.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dashcam Footage Captures Moment of Midair Collision Near DC Airport
Dashcam footage captured the moment a passenger aircraft collided with a military helicopter close to Reagan National Airport on Wednesday evening, January 29. Footage filmed from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington shows the moment American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter collided midair over the Potomac River. The source of the video, who wished to remain anonymous, told Storyful they and some family were on the base when they witnessed the crash, and were left 'traumatized.' They hoped the video 'helps with the investigation,' the source said. Recovery efforts were continuing after the crash, with no survivors expected. Credit: Storyful via Storyful
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Members of U.S. Figure Skating Team Were Onboard American Airlines That Crashed
Recent reports claim that numerous members of a US figure skating team were on board the American Airlines flight that crashed into a US Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Flight 5342 came into contact with a Black Hawk helicopter mid-air over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. This collision led to an explosion that was caught on camera. It showed both the aircraft crashing into the water below. According to a report by People Magazine, several members of a US figure skating team were on the flight that was involved in the crash with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter on January 29. The flight which took off from Wichita, Kansas with a total of 60 passengers and four crew members also had these figure skaters onboard as stated by the US Figure Skating Association in a press release on their website. They stated, 'U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter on Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.' The association also asserted that they were 'devastated' by the incident and promised to keep track of the situation. Additionally, in their report, The Guardian disclosed that the number of figure skaters was around 14. This includes Russian figure skating pair Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, members of the Boston Skating Club, and their mothers. The crash happened near Reagan National Airport and the army helicopter involved was carrying three soldiers. The exact time of impact was 8:47 p.m. ET, as obtained from the live footage captured at the Kennedy Center. Furthermore, a search-and-rescue operation is currently being carried out. Approximately 19 bodies have been recovered from the river with no survivors by Thursday morning, as per CBS News. The post Members of U.S. Figure Skating Team Were Onboard American Airlines That Crashed appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- Express Tribune
Transgender pilot Jo Ellis breaks silence on false rumors linking her to Black Hawk helicopter crash
Jo Ellis, a transgender U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot, has addressed false rumors circulating on social media that she was one of the pilots involved in a deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday evening. The crash tragically resulted in the deaths of 67 people—60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Eagle flight, and three soldiers onboard the Black Hawk helicopter. The collision occurred as American Eagle Flight 5342, a regional jet traveling from Wichita, Kansas, collided with the Black Hawk, which was on a routine training mission. The impact caused both aircrafts to plummet into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Recovery operations continued into Thursday, with at least 40 bodies recovered, though many victims remain unidentified. While authorities have not yet released the names of the soldiers aboard the Black Hawk, social media users wrongly speculated that Jo Ellis was among the victims. Ellis, a pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard, quickly refuted these claims. On Friday morning, Ellis took to Facebook to address the misinformation. "Some craziness has happened on the internet, and I'm being named as one of the pilots of the DC crash," she wrote. "Please report any accounts or posts you see. It's insulting to the victims and families of those lost, and they deserve better than this BS from the bots and trolls of the internet." In addition to her post, Ellis shared a video with the caption "Proof of life and statement." In the video, she clarified that she had no connection to the crash. "This is Jo Ellis. I am a Black Hawk pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard. I understand some people have associated me with the crash in D.C., and that is false," she said. "It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some sort of political agenda. They don't deserve that. I don't deserve this." She also explained that the Department of Defense handles casualty notifications and confirmed that no Virginia National Guard personnel were involved in the Black Hawk collision. The speculation surrounding Ellis's involvement in the crash gained traction partly due to her history of making anti-Trump statements on social media. President Donald Trump weighed in on the tragedy, raising questions about the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in federal hiring. He suggested, without evidence, that lower hiring standards for air traffic controllers during the Obama and Biden administrations may have contributed to the crash. Trump's comments sparked further political debate, though no direct connection between DEI policies and the crash has been established. The Black Hawk involved in the collision was a Sikorsky H-60 from the U.S. Army's 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The American Eagle flight, operated by PSA Airlines, was en route to Washington, D.C. from Wichita, Kansas. A livestream camera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. captured the explosion from the crash around 9 p.m. Wednesday evening. As investigations into the cause of the collision continue, authorities have not yet officially identified the victims aboard the helicopter. However, the false rumors surrounding Ellis have sparked broader conversations about the tragedy and the importance of respecting the victims and their families during such a difficult time.
CBS News
31-01-2025
- General
- CBS News
What we know about the American Airlines plane and Army helicopter crash over D.C.'s Potomac River
A passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair Wednesday and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. President Trump confirmed Thursday that there were no survivors. Many of the victims have yet to be publicly identified. The plane, American Eagle Flight No. 5342, a regional jetliner, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members on a flight from Wichita, Kansas. There were three soldiers aboard the U.S. Army's Sikorsky H-60, a Defense Department official told CBS News. At least 40 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday evening, a law enforcement source told CBS News. District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly earlier said that efforts at the scene had switched from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. Here's what we know so far about the crash: What happened? American Eagle Flight No. 5342, which was operated by PSA Airlines, collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter at around 9 p.m. Wednesday while approaching a runway at Reagan National Airport, the FAA said. The plane had taken off from Wichita, Kansas. American Eagle and PSA Airlines are subsidiaries of American Airlines. The helicopter involved in the collision was on a training flight and had belonged to B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion out of Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Joint Task Force-National Capitol Region media chief Heather Chairez told CBS News. A livestream camera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., captured the moment of the collision. The video, which has been verified by CBS News, shows an explosion in the area of the Potomac River at 8:47 p.m. Eastern. What we know about the the search operation D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly told reporters in a news briefing Thursday morning that 27 bodies had been recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter. He said, "We don't believe there are any survivors," adding that the efforts at the scene have switched from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. "It's a highly complex operation, the conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It's cold. They're dealing with relatively windy conditions," Donnelly said. CBS News senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported that human remains and debris were washing up on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. He said the plane broke into multiple pieces that were sitting in 5-8 feet of water. The flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as black boxes, have been recovered from the crashed plane, the NTSB confirmed. They will be analyzed at the NTSB lab, which is located about a mile from the crash site. Divers have had some access to the aircraft's cabin. Luggage is among items divers have recovered. The helicopter is upside down but appears to be mostly intact, Van Cleave added. What we know about the plane crash victims Top figure skaters from Russia and the United States — including 6 people with ties to the Skating Club of Boston — were among the victims. Athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers Jin Han and Christine Lane, and skating coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were all on board the flight, said Doug Zeghibe, the skating club's CEO and executive director. They were returning home from the National Development Camp, which was held in connection with the recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. Spencer Lane's father, Rhode Island resident Douglas Lane, told CBS affiliate WPRI his 16-year-old son was a "force of nature" who picked up figure skating just three years ago and progressed rapidly. Douglas Lane described his wife, Christine, as a caring and creative person who excelled in graphic design, photography and quilting. Naumov and Shishkova, a couple, are Russian-born figure skaters who won the 1994 World Figure Skating Championship and had been coaching at the club. They shared a son, Maxim Naumov, who is a competitive skater on Team USA. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed earlier that Naumov and Shishkova were on the flight along with other Russian nationals. Another victim in the crash, Asra Hussain Raza, had recently relocated to Washington, D.C., for a consulting position and was traveling home from a work trip when the collision occurred, her father-in-law, Hashim Raza, told CBS News. The 26-year-old was a graduate of the University of Indiana and Columbia University, her father-in-law said. Four members of a Maryland-based labor union, the Steamfitters United Association Local 602, were also on the flight, union leaders said in a social media post Thursday. The union represents heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and process piping industries in the D.C. Metro area. The crew chief of the helicopter was identified as 29-year-old Ryan O'Hara, CBS News learned Thursday. O'Hara was a husband and father to a 1-year-old son, his local Reserve Officers' Training Corps program said in a social media post about his death. Politicians react to the crash President Trump addressed the crash during a briefing at the White House Thursday morning, where he confirmed that there were no survivors. "I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation," Mr. Trump said. He also criticized the Biden administration and attacked diversity initiatives but offered no evidence linking the former president's policies to the crash. Mr. Trump, who claimed that he had increased standards for those who work within the aviation industry, announced he'd appointed Christopher Rocheleau as acting commissioner of the FAA. Mr. Trump said the investigation into the collision is ongoing and "we have some pretty good ideas" about what caused it. In an earlier statement, the president said, "Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise." And in a Truth Social post, he questioned what led up to the crash, writing, "This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" Newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on social media that the Pentagon was actively monitoring the situation and "poised to assist if needed." Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said in a statement, "Tonight, we received devastating news of what can only be described as nothing short of a nightmare ... My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim, and that he continues to be with their families." Alexandria, Virginia, Mayor Alyia Gaskins said on social media, "Earlier this evening, we were devastated to learn of a tragic aviation incident near DCA. Our prayers are with everyone affected. Our fire, police, and emergency personnel are assisting in the regional response." Alexandria is just south of Reagan Washington National Airport. Sen. Tim Kaine, of Virginia, acknowledged "there's a lot of questions" about the deadly collision in its aftermath. "You can't tell a lot from video footage taken at night, but the footage raises a lot of questions about how this happened," Kaine told "CBS Mornings" Thursday. The first major U.S. commercial crash in almost 16 years The last major U.S. commercial air crash occurred in February 2009 when a Continental Airlines flight out of Newark, New Jersey, operated by Colgan Air crashed into a house as it was approaching the airport in Buffalo, New York. That plane was a Bombardier Q400. Forty-nine people died in the tragedy. Continental merged with United Airlines in 2010. The last major American Airlines crash occurred in November 2001 near John F. Kennedy International Airport. American Airlines Flight No. 587, an Airbus A300, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 265 people. It was bound for Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The plane crashed in the Belle Harbor area of the Rockaways in the New York City borough of Queens.
