Tower asks PAT25 if they have the CRJ in sight, and apparently received an affirmative, instructing PAT25 to pass behind the CRJ.
SPECULATIVE: it is possible that PAT25 mistook AA3130 for 5342: they were very close to being on the same bearing from PAT25. 3/n
SPECULATIVE: it is possible that PAT25 mistook AA3130 for 5342: they were very close to being on the same bearing from PAT25. 3/n
January 30, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Tower asks PAT25 if they have the CRJ in sight, and apparently received an affirmative, instructing PAT25 to pass behind the CRJ.
SPECULATIVE: it is possible that PAT25 mistook AA3130 for 5342: they were very close to being on the same bearing from PAT25. 3/n
SPECULATIVE: it is possible that PAT25 mistook AA3130 for 5342: they were very close to being on the same bearing from PAT25. 3/n
Yikes! I just listened to the DC Heli freq on @liveatc.bsky.social and PAT25 was cleared for visual separation from the CRJ. 😔
January 30, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Yikes! I just listened to the DC Heli freq on @liveatc.bsky.social and PAT25 was cleared for visual separation from the CRJ. 😔
From initial information appears PSA Airlines 5342, a CRJ 700 collided with PAT25, an Army transport helicopter on the approach end of runway 33 at DCA, Reagan National Airport
iirc the PAT helos are gold top UH-60s used for VIP transport
ADS-B tracks: globe.adsbexchange.com?icao=ae313d,...
iirc the PAT helos are gold top UH-60s used for VIP transport
ADS-B tracks: globe.adsbexchange.com?icao=ae313d,...
January 30, 2025 at 2:44 AM
From initial information appears PSA Airlines 5342, a CRJ 700 collided with PAT25, an Army transport helicopter on the approach end of runway 33 at DCA, Reagan National Airport
iirc the PAT helos are gold top UH-60s used for VIP transport
ADS-B tracks: globe.adsbexchange.com?icao=ae313d,...
iirc the PAT helos are gold top UH-60s used for VIP transport
ADS-B tracks: globe.adsbexchange.com?icao=ae313d,...
To clarify, PAT25 cleared for visual separation from the CRJ approximately 1.5min before the incident.
DCA TWR then advised CRJ was over the Woodrow Wilson bridge and did PAT25 have visual? PAT25 confirmed & requested visual separation again. DCA TWR immediately approved. Incident about 13s later
DCA TWR then advised CRJ was over the Woodrow Wilson bridge and did PAT25 have visual? PAT25 confirmed & requested visual separation again. DCA TWR immediately approved. Incident about 13s later
January 30, 2025 at 3:30 AM
To clarify, PAT25 cleared for visual separation from the CRJ approximately 1.5min before the incident.
DCA TWR then advised CRJ was over the Woodrow Wilson bridge and did PAT25 have visual? PAT25 confirmed & requested visual separation again. DCA TWR immediately approved. Incident about 13s later
DCA TWR then advised CRJ was over the Woodrow Wilson bridge and did PAT25 have visual? PAT25 confirmed & requested visual separation again. DCA TWR immediately approved. Incident about 13s later
PAT25 said they had the CRJ in sight and was again cleared for visual separation
January 30, 2025 at 3:18 AM
PAT25 said they had the CRJ in sight and was again cleared for visual separation
ADSB people are suggesting that the helicopter was callsign PAT25, an Army VIP transport.
January 30, 2025 at 3:00 AM
ADSB people are suggesting that the helicopter was callsign PAT25, an Army VIP transport.
ATC : PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight ?
ATC : PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.
PAT25 : PAT25 has...er...the aircraft in sight, request visual separation.
ATC : It's approved.
ATC : AAL472 Washington tower, winds are 320 at 17- (background : Oh! OMG !)
ATC : 472!-... AAL3130 go around [...]
ATC : PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.
PAT25 : PAT25 has...er...the aircraft in sight, request visual separation.
ATC : It's approved.
ATC : AAL472 Washington tower, winds are 320 at 17- (background : Oh! OMG !)
ATC : 472!-... AAL3130 go around [...]
January 30, 2025 at 9:06 AM
ATC : PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight ?
ATC : PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.
PAT25 : PAT25 has...er...the aircraft in sight, request visual separation.
ATC : It's approved.
ATC : AAL472 Washington tower, winds are 320 at 17- (background : Oh! OMG !)
ATC : 472!-... AAL3130 go around [...]
ATC : PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.
PAT25 : PAT25 has...er...the aircraft in sight, request visual separation.
ATC : It's approved.
ATC : AAL472 Washington tower, winds are 320 at 17- (background : Oh! OMG !)
ATC : 472!-... AAL3130 go around [...]
From the Washington DC collision, we have air traffic control audio.
PAT25 is the Army helicopter.
ATC: “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight?”
ATC: “PAT25 pass behind the CRJ.”
ATC: “American 472…”
Unidentified: “Oh!”
Un: “Oh my god!”
Un: “Tower, did you see that?”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUq...
PAT25 is the Army helicopter.
ATC: “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight?”
ATC: “PAT25 pass behind the CRJ.”
ATC: “American 472…”
Unidentified: “Oh!”
Un: “Oh my god!”
Un: “Tower, did you see that?”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUq...
‘There was a collision’: Air traffic control recording captures moment of crash | NBC4 Washington
YouTube video by NBC4 Washington
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2025 at 6:22 AM
From the Washington DC collision, we have air traffic control audio.
PAT25 is the Army helicopter.
ATC: “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight?”
ATC: “PAT25 pass behind the CRJ.”
ATC: “American 472…”
Unidentified: “Oh!”
Un: “Oh my god!”
Un: “Tower, did you see that?”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUq...
PAT25 is the Army helicopter.
ATC: “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight?”
ATC: “PAT25 pass behind the CRJ.”
ATC: “American 472…”
Unidentified: “Oh!”
Un: “Oh my god!”
Un: “Tower, did you see that?”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUq...
AA5342 was in a descending left turn with flaps down.
SPECULATIVE: This may have precluded 5342 from seeing PAT25. It is also possible 5342 lost PAT25 among all the lights on the ground, which includes a large number of moving vehicles. 4/n
SPECULATIVE: This may have precluded 5342 from seeing PAT25. It is also possible 5342 lost PAT25 among all the lights on the ground, which includes a large number of moving vehicles. 4/n
January 30, 2025 at 6:38 PM
AA5342 was in a descending left turn with flaps down.
SPECULATIVE: This may have precluded 5342 from seeing PAT25. It is also possible 5342 lost PAT25 among all the lights on the ground, which includes a large number of moving vehicles. 4/n
SPECULATIVE: This may have precluded 5342 from seeing PAT25. It is also possible 5342 lost PAT25 among all the lights on the ground, which includes a large number of moving vehicles. 4/n
PAT25 is a VIP transport, the crew is very experienced.
January 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
PAT25 is a VIP transport, the crew is very experienced.
Here's the crash. PAT25 is the UH-60 (it's a helicopter, but the icon is a plane).
There's really no way this could have happened with a fully functional ATC, if there was no ill intent or mechanical issues.
There's really no way this could have happened with a fully functional ATC, if there was no ill intent or mechanical issues.
January 30, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Here's the crash. PAT25 is the UH-60 (it's a helicopter, but the icon is a plane).
There's really no way this could have happened with a fully functional ATC, if there was no ill intent or mechanical issues.
There's really no way this could have happened with a fully functional ATC, if there was no ill intent or mechanical issues.
Based on FAA rules, TWR advised PAT25 of the aircraft. PAT25 confirmed they had it in sight and requested visual separation. DCA TWR approved.
January 30, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Based on FAA rules, TWR advised PAT25 of the aircraft. PAT25 confirmed they had it in sight and requested visual separation. DCA TWR approved.
On this week’s AvTalk, takeaways from the NTSB’s investigative hearings on the DCA midair collision, the final report on the Gazpromavia Superjet crash, and an American Airlines 737 rejected takeoff highlights continued evacuation problems. www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...
August 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
On this week’s AvTalk, takeaways from the NTSB’s investigative hearings on the DCA midair collision, the final report on the Gazpromavia Superjet crash, and an American Airlines 737 rejected takeoff highlights continued evacuation problems. www.flightradar24.com/blog/avtalk-...
Tower controller 100% recognized that this didn’t look good and asked pat25 TWICE if they had the RJ in sight. What was he supposed to do, get out there and fly the helicopter for them?
August 1, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Tower controller 100% recognized that this didn’t look good and asked pat25 TWICE if they had the RJ in sight. What was he supposed to do, get out there and fly the helicopter for them?
It appears that JIA5342, operated by PSA Airlines (regional carrier for American Airlines) collided midair with PAT25. PAT25 is possibly DC Police or US Army aircraft.
January 30, 2025 at 2:55 AM
It appears that JIA5342, operated by PSA Airlines (regional carrier for American Airlines) collided midair with PAT25. PAT25 is possibly DC Police or US Army aircraft.
Looks like PSA Airlines 5342, and PAT25 mid-air.
January 30, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Looks like PSA Airlines 5342, and PAT25 mid-air.
The DCA-TWR asked PAT25 if he had the CRJ in sight. The pilot answer "yes" and asked DCA-TWR for "visual separation." I saw a video from Capt. Steeeve explaining that the PAT25 pilot was probably looking at the wrong aircraft, AA3130, instead of the AA5342.
January 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
The DCA-TWR asked PAT25 if he had the CRJ in sight. The pilot answer "yes" and asked DCA-TWR for "visual separation." I saw a video from Capt. Steeeve explaining that the PAT25 pilot was probably looking at the wrong aircraft, AA3130, instead of the AA5342.
The airframes involved in the crash (and it does, based on my perception of video footage, appear both helo and aircraft are down) are:
American Eagle (PSA AIrlines) AA5342: Mitsubishi CRJ-701ER N709PS #A97753
PAT25: US Army UH-60L 00-26860 #AE313D (per www.live-military-mode-s.eu)
American Eagle (PSA AIrlines) AA5342: Mitsubishi CRJ-701ER N709PS #A97753
PAT25: US Army UH-60L 00-26860 #AE313D (per www.live-military-mode-s.eu)
January 30, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The airframes involved in the crash (and it does, based on my perception of video footage, appear both helo and aircraft are down) are:
American Eagle (PSA AIrlines) AA5342: Mitsubishi CRJ-701ER N709PS #A97753
PAT25: US Army UH-60L 00-26860 #AE313D (per www.live-military-mode-s.eu)
American Eagle (PSA AIrlines) AA5342: Mitsubishi CRJ-701ER N709PS #A97753
PAT25: US Army UH-60L 00-26860 #AE313D (per www.live-military-mode-s.eu)
I wonder if PAT25 got confused about which runway the CRJ was landing on. Most flights use Runway 1 (red line) but some can use Runway 33 (green line). Any idea if PAT25 had TCAS?
January 30, 2025 at 3:54 AM
I wonder if PAT25 got confused about which runway the CRJ was landing on. Most flights use Runway 1 (red line) but some can use Runway 33 (green line). Any idea if PAT25 had TCAS?
At the link below:
· Granular ADS-B data for #AA5342
· Granular Mode S data for PAT25
· Details on why the helicopter was not visible on Flightradar24 (Mode S only, not enough data to calculate MLAT)
· Updates as they become available
www.flightradar24.com/blog/psa-air...
· Granular ADS-B data for #AA5342
· Granular Mode S data for PAT25
· Details on why the helicopter was not visible on Flightradar24 (Mode S only, not enough data to calculate MLAT)
· Updates as they become available
www.flightradar24.com/blog/psa-air...
PSA Airlines CRJ-700 collides with US military helicopter in Washington DC | Flightradar24 Blog
A PSA Airlines CRJ-700 collided with US military H60 helicopter in Washington DC as it was attempting to land at Washington Reagan Airport.
www.flightradar24.com
January 30, 2025 at 4:34 AM
At the link below:
· Granular ADS-B data for #AA5342
· Granular Mode S data for PAT25
· Details on why the helicopter was not visible on Flightradar24 (Mode S only, not enough data to calculate MLAT)
· Updates as they become available
www.flightradar24.com/blog/psa-air...
· Granular ADS-B data for #AA5342
· Granular Mode S data for PAT25
· Details on why the helicopter was not visible on Flightradar24 (Mode S only, not enough data to calculate MLAT)
· Updates as they become available
www.flightradar24.com/blog/psa-air...
Still experimenting with Kalman filtering of the path of PAT25, the helicopter that collided with the jet, to improve its accuracy.
January 31, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Still experimenting with Kalman filtering of the path of PAT25, the helicopter that collided with the jet, to improve its accuracy.
In a subsequent briefing on the accident, the NTSB stated that PAT25 was within the lateral boundaries of the approach, which I think means whoever told the New York Times it was off-route didn't know what they were talking about.
The New York Times is reporting that the helicopter was "at least a half-mile off the approved route" at the time of the collision. Kinda doesn't look like that to me, but I assume they talked to people with better data than I have.
February 4, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In a subsequent briefing on the accident, the NTSB stated that PAT25 was within the lateral boundaries of the approach, which I think means whoever told the New York Times it was off-route didn't know what they were talking about.