A tragic mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport claimed the lives of two U.S. Army staff members and all 64 passengers aboard an American Airlines regional jet. The incident occurred during a routine training exercise involving a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.
Two U.S. Army staff members, Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, tragically lost their lives in a mid-air collision involving a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet. The incident occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during a routine training exercise.
A third service member onboard the helicopter remains unidentified at the family's request, and Eaves' body has not yet been recovered. The commercial plane, Flight 5342, tragically carried 64 passengers, all of whom perished in the crash. Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commander of Joint Task Force – National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington, expressed deep sorrow and pledged full support to the families of the fallen service members. He emphasized the priority on recovery efforts and full cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other relevant agencies in determining the cause of this devastating incident.The training exercise involved a continuity of government mission, which mandates the evacuation of U.S. leaders to safety in the event of a major attack on Washington, D.C. The investigation will delve into the circumstances leading to the collision, aiming to identify contributing factors. President Biden, while offering condolences and support, has already begun suggesting a potential cause, claiming the crash stemmed from the FAA's previous initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion. Bradley Bowman, a former Blackhawk pilot with experience flying the same Potomac River pathway, highlighted the altitude as a crucial aspect that investigators will likely scrutinize. He emphasized that if the helicopter was significantly above the designated 200-foot limit, it would have been a critical factor in the tragic outcome. Bowman explained that the flight plan for the helicopter includes varying altitude restrictions, with lower limits near Reagan National Airport, comparable to speed limits on roadways. During his own flights in the area, Bowman stressed the importance of maintaining proper altitude and that any deviation exceeding 215-220 feet would have been immediately corrected
Aviation Accident Mid-Air Collision US Army Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Federal Aviation Administration National Transportation Safety Board
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