Trump / Musk's First Airline Disaster

It's been approximately 16 years since a U.S. commercial airline disaster.

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American Airlines Disaster

Since every day brings a new fresh hell down on us, waking up this morning to the news of an airline crash didn’t seem as shocking as maybe it should have. Last night, at the time of this writing, American Airlines flight 5342 was on final approach to Washington National Airport (DCA) when it was struck by an Army Black Hawk helicopter. That impact sent fiery remains of the Bombardier CRJ 701ER into the Potomac River, killing everyone on board. There were also no survivors on the Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk.

The freshly-minted Secretary of Transportation says that both aircraft were on a “standard flight pattern,” and it appears that the government is going to place the blame on the Black Hawk and its crew, which were performing a training exercise.

Condolences to the families of the crash victims, but America can rest assured knowing our new Secretary of Transportation was a contestant on Road Rules: All Stars and has experience solving various transportation-themed challenges #OnlyTheBest #MeritBasedHiring

Angelo Villagomez (@taotaotasi.bsky.social)2025-01-30T14:07:11.065Z

Air traffic control audio that I listened to of the event appears to indicate that the Black Hawk didn’t see the CRJ until it was too late.

Washington National Airport’s final approach is notoriously difficult, not because of terrain, but because it sits so close to both the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon. Commercial aircraft must navigate around the restricted airspace while also avoiding helicopters and other government aircraft. Add in the fact that it’s also a military training zone, and it’s not a surprise accidents happen there.

It’s a good thing that we have a fully competent government in place, with well-paid and well-staffed air traffic control towers directing through this tough zone.

Oh. Wait.

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