Expert: No Need to Panic About Broader Safety Concerns Following Deadly US Mid-Air Collision
The tragic mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night is believed to be a result of specific air traffic patterns in the region, according to an aviation expert. The incident should not raise widespread concerns about air safety, he stated.
John Gradek, an aviation management instructor at McGill University, highlighted the increasing activity at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport over the years. The presence of military aircraft in the area also contributes to the higher-risk airspace it represents.
He remarked, “It’s probably the busiest runway in the U.S. and when you have that level of volume and you also have military flights that use airspace around D.C., you know, it was an accident waiting to happen.”
The collision involving an American Airlines jet carrying 64 passengers and a Black Hawk Army helicopter carrying three soldiers is reported to have resulted in fatalities on both aircraft, marking it as the worst aviation disaster in the U.S. in nearly 25 years.
While the cause of the collision remains unknown, officials indicated that the jet was in the process of landing normally when the helicopter crossed its path.
Gradek mentioned that air traffic controllers had alerted the helicopter about the plane, shifting the responsibility to the helicopter pilot to avoid the jet.
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Gradek emphasized, “It is up to the military helicopters to really ensure they are highly aware of the surrounding air traffic and take measures to avoid incoming or outgoing aircraft.”
He explained that the jet pilots would have primarily focused on landing, flying at an elevation of around 350 feet and 225 kilometers per hour when the collision occurred, underscoring the importance of the helicopter avoiding it.
“The Black Hawk, from what I understand, did acknowledge visual on the aircraft,” Gradek stated. “So whether they visually recognize the right airplane or not is something that Investigators will be looking at.”
While Canada has concerns about shortages of air traffic controllers, Gradek noted that flight volumes are managed to prevent overextension. In peak travel seasons like summer, restrictions on the number of flights may be imposed due to limited controller availability.
He also highlighted that Canadian airports do not experience the same level of military flight activity as seen in the D.C. area, further highlighting the unique circumstances of the crash.
“It’s an aberration as far as I’m concerned,” Gradek concluded. “It’s not something that we should panic over at this point in time.”
