The last time a passenger died in a commercial plane crash in the United States was nearly 16 years ago. That is, until the shock collision between a commercial Bombardier CJR700 and a military Black Hawk created an explosion over the Potomac River, bringing the nation’s capital to a standstill.
While we still have much to learn about the ensuing tragedy, including the total death toll, the facts on their own are almost unthinkable. In the single most restrictive airspace in the country, the Black Hawk crashed into American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita as it was moments away from touching down on the tarmac of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. There’s no evidence or allegation of foul play, but the coincidences are as horrifying as they are extraordinary.
Since the 9/11 attacks, the 15 nautical mile radius of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone, or the DC FRZ, has been the single most secure airspace in the country. The only aircraft allowed in the DC FRZ are approved government flights, scheduled commercial flights in and out of DCA, and specific flights granted waivers by the TSA.
In other words, no drones, private jets, or recreational flights can fly in the DC FRZ without special approval from the FAA, TSA, and Secret Service. Pilots who fly into the FRZ without authorization are subject to criminal prosecution, and even temporary incursions of the airspace have resulted in the lockdown of the White House and the evacuation of Capitol Hill. The FAA expressly warns that if a pilot violates FRZ airspace and fails to comply with law enforcement, “the United States government may use deadly force against the airborne aircraft, if it is determined that the aircraft pose an imminent security threat.” If the government decides to intercept an intervening aircraft, they usually send…a military Black Hawk helicopter.
Consider back in 2004 when a DCA-bound plane carrying Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher triggered the evacuation of the Capitol after it entered the FRZ without notifying DHS due to the plane’s transponder failure. The military deployed two Black Hawks to intercept Fletcher’s plane. While the flight was ultimately escorted to a landing without further incident, congressional investigation confirmed that federal authorities from the military to Immigration and Customs Enforcement are trained to shoot from Black Hawks and allowed to use lethal force if necessary to save lives.
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The available evidence indicates that Wednesday’s crash was nothing more than a tragic accident. The American Airlines flight was a routine route that should take only three hours. It had every right and reason to be in the FRZ, so it’s not as though the military had any reason to escort the Bombardier, let alone crash into the flight.
American Airlines confirmed that its flight carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the Army said three soldiers were on the Black Hawk, none of whom were senior officials. Emergency personnel were on sight, both on land and in the river, from jurisdictions ranging from Alexandria and Fairfax to the federal government. Though D.C. posted its coldest Inauguration in decades just last week, Wednesday peaked near 60 degrees during the day. If all goes well, speed from emergency responders and softer weather may give the victims of both flights a better chance of survival. But there’s little question that Wednesday’s crash is unprecedented for all the wrong reasons, and frankly, an intentional collision would be less shocking than the freak accident over the safest airspace in America.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
