Animation Shows Pilot's View Before Deadly Reagan National Airport Mid-Air Collision

Mid-Air Collision Over Potomac River

• ✈️ New animations released by the NTSB visualize the fatal January 29, 2025, mid-air collision over the Potomac River.
• 💥 The animation depicts the event from the perspectives of air traffic control, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter cockpit, and the cockpit of American Airlines Flight 5342.
• 💔 The collision involved an American Eagle CRJ700 on final approach to Reagan National Airport and a helicopter, resulting in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

Communication and Visibility Before Impact

• 📞 Investigators confirmed that both crews were in contact with air traffic control prior to the crash.
• 🚁 The helicopter crew reported visual contact with the jet shortly before the collision occurred.

Safety Concerns and Near-Misses

• ⚠️ The NTSB has highlighted urgent safety concerns regarding the dangerously tight airspace near Reagan National Airport.
• 🚨 The agency pointed to a history of near-miss alerts in the area that had not been adequately addressed.