Plane and military helicopter collision in the US: possible air traffic controller error

An aviation disaster occurred in the skies over the US, which could become the largest in the past 15 years. A Bombardier CRJ700 passenger plane collided with a military helicopter UH-60 Blackhawk on a training flight.

Preliminary data suggests that an air traffic controller made an error while coordinating aircraft movements. He asked the helicopter crew if they could see the plane and received an affirmative response. Following this, the Blackhawk pilots requested "visual separation," which was supposed to allow them to independently adjust their course and avoid a close approach.

However, at the moment of impact, the helicopter was maintaining altitude, while the passenger plane was on descent. The Blackhawk crew was not given a signal to change course, which led to a fatal collision.

Disaster over the Potomac

The collision occurred near Washington. Debris from the aircraft fell into the Potomac River, from where rescuers have already recovered 19 bodies. Emergency services and FBI representatives are working at the crash site.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located near the site of the tragedy, is closed until 5 a.m. on Friday.