During the inbound Washington National Airport, the pilot of the PSA airline MHIRJ CRJ700, which is involved in the aerial collision, accepted a regular sequence offer of an alternative runway rejected by the previous flight crew.
The longest runway 1 among the three national runways is used for both arrival and departure, and some aircraft of the runway 1 approach along the Potomac River and some aircraft with the runway 33. It was provided as an option to land.
After Jetblue Airways EMBRAER 190 was cleared to Runway 1, he was asked if the flight 5307 could take Runway 33, so another PSA CRJ700 crew arrived from Montgomery.
According to the Air Force Communication archive by LIVEATC, the crew responded that it was “impossible.”
Later, the crew was cleared around 20:42 to land on the runway 1.
After about 30s, the unfortunate flight 5342 pilot, which arrived from Wichita and immediately track 5307, notified the tower that it was visual in runway 1.
“Can you get on the runway 33?” Tower controller responded. After about 20s, the crew answered: “Yes, we can do 33.”
In order to line up on the runway 33, the CRJ700 deviated to the right just before reaching the Woodl Wilson Memorial Bridge, which carries the 495 Beltway on the Potomac.
Airbus A319, an aircraft behind the CRJ, is cleared to land on the runway 1, and due to the deviation of the CRJ, Boeing 737, another US aircraft, has been able to use the runway 1 for departure. Ta. “No delay” to the crew.
Just as the 737 was lifted, the CRJ turned left, crossed Potomac, and collided with the Sicorsky Black Hawk Helicopter at around 20:48 alongside the runway 33.
“Tower, did you see it?” Trans mission from an unknown aircraft said a few seconds later.
The weather data from the people at that time show a clear and clear state. Subsequent communications indicate that the A319 and other aircraft have been ordered to implement an approach they missed.
