Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com

Sen. Duckworth Seeks Clarity on Black Hawk Helicopter and American Airlines Collision

Senator Tammy Duckworth is urging caution as investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) get underway following the tragic incident involving a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight on Wednesday night. Despite calling for patience, Duckworth is actively pursuing more information to better understand the events that led to the collision.

In a Thursday interview with CBS News’ Nikole Killion, Duckworth revealed she has formally requested transcripts of air traffic control communications and insights into the responses from the pilots involved. “What I did learn was that air traffic control did contact and speak with the helicopter crew twice, and they acknowledged the instructions twice,” Duckworth stated. Additionally, she is seeking the flight paths of both aircraft leading up to the crash.

Duckworth, who has a deep understanding of military aviation as a former Black Hawk pilot and Iraq War veteran, contends that the individuals piloting the helicopter were highly trained professionals. “They wouldn’t be out there in this special airspace — the airspace around Washington, D.C.,” she explained. The area in question is the Special Flight Restricted Area (SFRA), a designated airspace surrounding the nation’s capital, which includes a smaller zone around Reagan National Airport.

The senator elaborated on the complexities involved in operating such aircraft in busy airspace. “The crew members would have split up the crew duties. One person would have been flying the aircraft, which demands significant physical coordination,” Duckworth noted. “You’re controlling the aircraft’s direction with your right hand, adjusting the engine’s power with your left, and managing the aircraft’s elevation with your feet.” This division of tasks allows the second pilot to communicate with air traffic control while remaining vigilant for nearby aircraft.

Duckworth emphasized the importance of situational awareness among the crew during such flights. “They would have been looking outside the aircraft, trying to identify any nearby aircraft, while also relaying information to each other,” she said. This collaboration is crucial, especially in a fast-paced environment where multiple flights are managed simultaneously.

As part of safety protocols, the helicopter would have adhered to a limited flying altitude, referred to as a “hard deck,” of no more than 200 feet above mean sea level in the SFRA. “They were flying relatively low above the Potomac River at that time, while trying to spot the landing airplane in a congested night sky,” Duckworth explained.

In response to questions regarding the use of night-vision goggles (NVGs) during the flight, Duckworth clarified that they were not in use. “In an area with many lights, NVGs are not as beneficial and are more suited for combat situations in darkness,” she noted. Instead, the helicopter operated under visual flight rules, within the parameters for which the pilots had been trained and the helicopter was designed.

Duckworth believes the helicopter was equipped with its lights, making it visible to the airplane. However, she pointed out that landing aircraft typically have the right of way. “The crew aboard the American Airlines flight would have primarily been focused on making their approach to land,” she said.

She also commented on the visibility differences between the two aircraft. “The American Airlines crew would have had a more limited view through their smaller windows compared to the helicopter’s broad visibility,” Duckworth explained, recalling that the crew in the Black Hawk is positioned in a “plexiglass bubble” that offers expansive visibility.

In light of remarks made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the collision being an “elevation issue,” and President Trump’s assertion that the helicopter could have altered its altitude to avoid the plane, Duckworth maintained that it is premature for speculation. “We have to let NTSB and FAA do their jobs… Neither the president nor Mr. Hegseth are pilots, as far as I know, and I think that amateur speculation is not what is needed at this point,” she concluded.

Source
www.cbsnews.com