The tragic air accident in Washington in which a commercial plane has collided with a helicopter has dismayed to the United States.
The authorities have ruled out that there are survivors among the 64 people traveling on the plane of the American Eagle company (60 passengers and 4 crew members) and have informed that so far 28 bodies of the Potomac River waters have been recovered.
The most serious aerial tragedy in decades
It is about most serious plane crash in the US in almost 24 years And according to the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, “was avoidable,” although the investigation is still underway.
The 5342 flight of American Eagle, a regional subsidiary airline of American Airlines, from Wichita (Kansas), made the approach to the Ronald Reagan Airport of Washington when, at 20.48 local time on Wednesday, it hit a Black Hawk military helicopter in which Three people were traveling.
According to the United States Artistic Skating Federation, some of the passengers were skaters and skaters, coaches and relatives who had participated in a championship held in Wichita.
“Something went wrong”
The Secretary of Transportation assured that the plane made an approximation to land normal and that “Something has gone wrong”because it is normal that in that area military helicopters share airspace with civil planes.
The secretary explained that the Fuselage of the American Eagle plane was invested and has been found in three different sections in shallow waters.
Duffy explained that the National Transport Security Board (NTSB) will analyze the remains to clarify the causes of the incident.
Last night, when the accident occurred, the weather conditions in Washington were optimal, with clear sky and without strong winds.
Radio communications audios with the control tower show that The controllers warned the traffic helicopter in their neighborhood and that it was pending of the CRJ700.
The testimony of a controller, witness of the accident
An air controller who witnessed the accident describes in an audio what he could see at the time of the incident. “I just saw a fireball,” he said.
“I was in the middle of the river (Potomac). I saw a large ball of fire and then disappeared. I would say that They have crashed about 800 meters from the route From approach to track 33 “of the airport, said the worker.
In another audio, it is heard as a controller tries to communicate with the Black Hawk pilot by radio, but had no answer. “Pat 25 (helicopter) passes behind the CRJ (plane),” says the man.
