Air traffic control supervisor allowed 1 controller to go home early on night of fatal crash: report

Ahead of Wednesday night’s fatal collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight that was approaching a runway at Reagan National Airport for landing, an air traffic control supervisor reportedly let a controller go home early.

A person briefed on staffing and an internal preliminary FAA safety report told the New York Times that an air traffic control supervisor allowed one air traffic controller to leave before 9:30 pm on Wednesday. The preliminary report stated that the tasks of handling helicopter traffic in the area and managing planes at the airport are typically divided between 10 am and 9:30 pm, after which, when traffic slows, the duties are normally combined.

This left one air traffic controller to handle both roles. It was revealed on Thursday that the number of staff in Reagan National’s air traffic control tower was "not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic." The tower at DC’s closest airport has reportedly been understaffed for years, being nearly a third below targeted staff levels as of September 2023, with 19 fully certified controllers. Many controllers have had to work up to six days per week and 10 hours per day.

The helicopter was reportedly flying at a higher altitude and off course when it struck the American Airlines flight approaching a runway at the DC-area airport Wednesday evening. It was reported flying over 300 feet and half a mile off course from where it should have been. The helicopter was supposed to be flying Route 4, a predetermined route that hugs the east bank of the Potomac River.

There were three people on the helicopter and 64 passengers and crew aboard the airliner, which began its flight in Wichita, Kansas, when they collided. All are presumed dead. Some of the first victims of the crash were identified on Thursday and included American Airlines captain Jonathan Campos, as well as pilot Samuel Lilley, the latter of which was recently engaged. Flight attendants Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder were killed. Also on board the flight were Asra Hussain Raza, who was returning from a work trip and multiple members of the Skating Club of Boston.