Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told Newsmax Saturday that he is concerned about reports that a military helicopter involved in a fatal crash was flying at an improper altitude.
American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Wednesday night, sending the two aircraft into the Potomac River and killing all 67 aboard in the deadliest U.S. air crash in more than two decades.
The regional jet out of Wichita, Kansas with 60 passengers and four crew was preparing to land. The UH-60 Black Hawk based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia was on a training exercise carrying three soldiers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, said the helicopter crew was "very experienced" and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.
The helicopter's maximum allowed altitude at the time was 200 feet, Koziol said. It was not immediately clear whether it exceeded that limit, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said altitude seemed to be a factor in the collision.
"I'm worried a little bit about what I've seen reports on, the military helicopter at the height that it was at, and that that was not at the proper height," Burchett, a member of the House Transportation Committee, told "Saturday Report." "So I think those are some things we're going to look at.
"The reality is you can see what happened. They were both in the same trajectory, and that is just wrong. Where the failure was, we're going to find out, and we're going to correct it."
Burchett reflected on past aviation disasters, recalling a crash into the Potomac River decades ago. Only three people survived, and that incident led to changes in deicing procedures.
"I hope corrections are made," he said. "It is the safest form of transportation, and it is not acceptable that anyone loses their life."
A little more than 24 hours before Wednesday's collision, a different regional jet descending to land at Reagan executed a go-around maneuver because of a military helicopter in the same area. Flight tracking sites and air-traffic control logs show the Embraer E-175 was cleared to land and advised about a helicopter in its vicinity when its automated collision avoidance system pushed it out of proper alignment for landing. It landed safely minutes later.
Due to the heavy helicopter traffic, some pilots have labeled the area "helicopter alley."
"Why is the military there in a civilian area?" Burchett asked. "And if it's training, then we need to get them another facility to do just that."
Burchett, who now flies regularly as a member of Congress, noted that he has personally experienced two incidents in which flights had to divert due to other aircraft in their path.
"I think we need to address this, but I don't think we need a knee-jerk reaction," he said. "Let's do our diligence. Let's get to the bottom of it, and let's make the corrections so no one else loses their life."
The congressman also commented on concerns about staffing at air traffic control towers.
One air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened, according to a report by the FAA that was obtained by The Associated Press. Those duties are often divided between two people, but the airport typically combines the roles at 9:30 p.m, once traffic begins to slow down. On Wednesday the tower supervisor directed that they be combined earlier.
"Those are all things we'll look into," Burchett said. "I suspect in the Transportation Subcommittee of Aviation, I will be privileged to some of those reports now, and we're going to put a stop to this nonsense."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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