Local Pilot and Veteran Respond to Plane Collision in DC

Mark Schiefelbein – staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – As more details continue to come out of a midair collision between a American Airlines airplane and a helicopter over the Potomac River, experts and the public search for answers. The crash, which happened as the American Airlines plane was approaching its final descent, is being described as both tragic and traumatizing to many.

Veteran pilot Robin Cole, who has six decades of flying experience, provided his thoughts into the challenges of landing at the airport where the crash occurred.

“They had to make a turn to the right, proceed out, and then turn back to the northwest to line up on runway 33, which is heading into the wind,” Cole said. “That is a highly demanding action on an airliner.”

Cole, who has landed at the same airport before, says that the airstrip is not the easiest to navigate. In such situations, pilots must remain completely focused on their descent.

“We have to assume [the pilots’ visibility was blocked] from anything coming at them from the right,” he said. “And the air traffic controllers didn’t warn them that there was anything imminently approaching. They were cleared to land on runway 33 and were just 45 seconds from landing when the impact occurred, at 300 feet, they were only 30 seconds from touchdown.”

A big factor in the collision was that the plane and helicopter were likely not operating on the same radio frequency, making communication between them impossible. Instead, both aircraft relied solely on instructions from air traffic control.

“Landing an airplane of that size on a runway that’s only 80% as long in that environment requires absolutely 100% concentration,” Cole explained.

As the plane made its final approach, Cole said the pilots would have been listening for clearance from the control tower.

“They were waiting for: ‘American Airlines 5343, you’re cleared to land.’ And from that point forward, they were never verbally warned, ‘Look out, there’s traffic to your right.'”

Veteran and counselor Angel Edwards highlighted the emotional toll on victims’ families and the full public.

“This is going to cause PTSD for civilians, for the people who watched it on TV, and for the family members who were waiting and excited for that plane to land,” Edwards said. “Even the air traffic controllers, who were supposed to be controlling everything, will likely blame themselves. And nobody recognizes that.”

With her military background, Edwards said the tragedy resonated deeply.

“I can only imagine, from the military side, what they are going to go home to and how they are going to feel about this,” she said.

For those struggling to process the crash, Edwards asks people to seek support.

“If you’re feeling suicidal or just need someone to talk to, seek help,” she advised. “You never want to be alone in grief. People need to know they have support around them—especially in this community.”