SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
By David Shepardson
After a midair collision between an military helicopter and a passenger aircraft this month caused two flights to collide with Reagan Washington National Airport, killing 67 people, authorities have launched a search.
Hardy claimed that the troops had broken aircraft safety regulations.
” We’ve just lost 67 souls,” he declared. He posted on X on Friday, Washington day, saying no more plane trips for VIPs or unwanted teaching in a crowded Daa airport.
Taking a car or Uber; most VIPs also offer “black car service.”
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is looking into the affair, the two vehicles were involved in the most recent event: a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 from Orlando, Florida, and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 from Boston.
According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ), they were instructed by air traffic control to “perform go-arounds” on Thursday around 2.30pm because of a “priority air transport” helicopter.
The FAA placed permanent constraints on non-essential aircraft operations around Reagan National Airport following the flight incident on January 29 between an American Airlines local plane and a US Army Black Hawk, which claimed the lives of all 67 passengers.
The FAA is looking at the course of the army helicopter to see if it violates a contract with the military.
” It appears that the Black Hawk function did not go directly to the Pentagon Heliport. Rather, it traveled admirably around the Pentagon, according to an FAA note.
Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, claimed that the troops was “once more putting the traveling public in danger.”
” It’s period for the FAA to assert control over the national aircraft so that the military stops operating air cars for military leaders.”
There were 97 travellers and five members of Delta’s team, according to the airline.
Everything at Delta matters more to us than the health of our employees and customers. As the FAA conducts its investigation, we’ll work with them, the airport said.
Republic Airways did not respond to a request for comment right away.
The Pentagon did not respond right away. Investigators are looking at the pilot’s path and relationships with air traffic control, according to a person in charge.
According to an anonymous US official, the military plane was conducting an initial evacuation rehearsal, according to preliminary information.
The leading Democrat on the Commerce Committee, Senator Maria Cantwell, called the recent lethal collision “outrageous” because the same army brigade once more flew a aircraft very near to passenger jets.
” It is far past time for Secretary ] Pete Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves,” she said.
Virginia’s aircraft is close to Capitol Hill, but it is only six kilometers away from it, which makes it popular with politicians, tourists, and locals.
Reuters
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