Black Hawk on collision path with CRJ 700
This question from Quora explores whether the pilots of American Airlines Flight 5342 could have taken different actions to avoid the tragic collision. One possible consideration is whether the captain could have declined the last-minute runway change from the original plan to land on Runway 1. The pilot-in-command has ultimate authority over the aircraft’s safety and can refuse a runway change if it compromises safety. If the adjustment required rapid changes or the aircraft was not properly configured for the new approach, the captain could have requested to continue with the initially cleared runway.
Runway 33, which the captain of Flight 5342 accepted, is known to be challenging due to its shorter length and the need for a late turn, requiring precise maneuvering. This demand for high accuracy could have affected the pilot’s ability to scan for nearby traffic, possibly leading to a more focused approach with reduced situational awareness. The crew was not obligated to accept this runway and could have requested an alternative or allowed more time for a stabilized approach.
I recall a similar situation during a flight to Newark Liberty International Airport while flying the Boeing 777 into New York. We were initially cleared for Runway 22R, an 11,000-foot runway primarily used for arrivals. However, during final approach, we were instructed to switch to Runway 22L, a shorter runway typically used for departures. This procedure, known as a “sidestep maneuver” requires the pilot to shift to an adjacent, parallel runway within close proximity. Such requests are not uncommon, and we were trained to execute them safely.
Unfortunately for Flight 5342, the decision to accept the last-minute change to Runway 33 contributed to the collision. While the aircraft was equipped with a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), its effectiveness in preventing the crash was limited. TCAS is primarily designed to prevent mid-air collisions at higher altitudes, typically above 1,000 feet AGL (above ground level). In this incident, the Black Hawk helicopter was reportedly flying at 300 feet—above its 200-foot limit—at the time of the collision, above the Potomac River.
Although the Black Hawk crew reportedly had visual contact with Flight 5342 and intended to maintain separation, they may have misidentified the aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation will provide more clarity on whether there were any TCAS alerts issued and how the pilots responded. Until then, the possibility remains that a different decision on runway selection could have influenced the outcome of this tragic event.
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