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Shortly Before Fatal Crash, Jet Pilot Was Asked to Change Runways
The New York Times ^ | Jan. 30, 2025, 1:14 p.m. ET | Kate Kelly and Emily Steel

Posted on 01/30/2025 5:13:27 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

The plane had been cleared to land on Reagan National Airport’s main runway. But in the final moments of the flight, air traffic control asked the pilot to land on a separate, intersecting runway.

Shortly before an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, the plane’s pilots were asked to pivot its landing route from one runway to another, according to a person briefed on the event and conversation overheard on audio recordings of conversations that occurred between an air traffic controller and the pilots.

American Airlines Flight 5342, which was en route to Washington from Wichita, Kan., had originally been cleared by the National Airport traffic control tower to land on the airport’s main runway, called Runway 1, the person briefed on the events and the audio recordings revealed. But in the final moments of the flight, this person and these recordings also showed, the jet pilot was asked by air traffic control to instead make a circle landing on a separate, intersecting runway, Runway 33.

That decision, according to the person who was briefed on the event and two other people who are familiar with the airport’s air traffic, happens routinely when regional jets like the American Airlines aircraft are involved, and may have been made to help keep air traffic moving efficiently by not clogging the main runway. It nonetheless raised questions within the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday morning about congestion at National Airport, one of the nation’s busiest, the person briefed on the event added.

It is also raising questions about the safety of using intersecting runways, the person briefed on the event said, which the F.A.A. has sought to eliminate or close in recent years in places like Chicago and Dallas because of concerns about congestion...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: 5342; atc; dca
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To: freepersup

Or confusing the one landing which was ahead,of the one it collided with. Omitted the obligatory “at 11 o’clock 1 mile” or whatever. Said ‘do you see the xyx. Which is useless at night. imo.


41 posted on 01/30/2025 7:13:30 PM PST by takebackaustin
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To: Jane Long

Wow, I wonder how long it will take for the MSM to admit that?


42 posted on 01/30/2025 7:14:19 PM PST by volare737 (Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated.)
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To: dragnet2

I could give a shit less...

Me: Don’t care...

I’m hugging for who?

You feel me?


43 posted on 01/30/2025 7:22:38 PM PST by freepersup (“Those who conceal crimes are preparing to commit new ones.” ~Vuk Draskovic~)
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To: Jane Long

Other than sex change drugs is there a reason a tranny should not pilot a helicopter? Maybe the ONLY reason it was there, to fulfill a quota.


44 posted on 01/30/2025 7:29:44 PM PST by madison10
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

the helo pilot was retarded and the air traffic control was not decisive

that’s it

nothing more to other than who to hang for this


45 posted on 01/30/2025 8:08:26 PM PST by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh
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To: WeaslesRippedMyFlesh

You probably just summed up the last 5 minutes of the “Air Disasters” episode of this crash when it runs next year on Smithsonian Channel!


46 posted on 01/30/2025 8:27:57 PM PST by volare737 (Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated.)
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To: volare737

You guys ok?


47 posted on 01/30/2025 8:36:38 PM PST by freepersup (“Those who conceal crimes are preparing to commit new ones.” ~Vuk Draskovic~)
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To: freepersup

LoL!


48 posted on 01/30/2025 8:37:11 PM PST by freepersup (“Those who conceal crimes are preparing to commit new ones.” ~Vuk Draskovic~)
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To: freepersup
You obviously are not....Here’s my final effort to help you...lol

Since you will not ask an airline pilot (I also assume you don’t know any)

and you refuse to google it and post the answer here,

I have a very easy way to help you understand,,,,just call the Washington National Control Tower at 1-703-413-1530. Just ask them the winds at time and the active active runways at the time of the crash.

The tower personnel are usually very friendly and helpful (it would help you even more if you lie and tell them you are a pilot...lol).

Heck, its really easy, you can even ask them about tailwind operations. Enjoy!

P.S. Please come back and let us know what they say!

49 posted on 01/30/2025 8:51:11 PM PST by volare737 (Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated.)
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To: freepersup
Really looking forward to what they tell you! Will check to see what they said in the morning.

Don’t let us down…lol

50 posted on 01/30/2025 8:57:31 PM PST by volare737 (Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated.)
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To: Jane Long
“Female” co-pilot was tranny ...

in other words, extremely mentally ill

51 posted on 01/31/2025 3:32:56 AM PST by SisterK (it's controlled demolition)
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