1 Day Before American Airlines Plane Crash, Another Jet Had to Abort First Landing at D.C. Airport: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

A helicopter uses a spotlight on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va.Photo:AP Photo/Alex Brandon

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

One day before themidair crash in Washington, D.C., another collision was reportedly avoided.Republic Airways Flight 4514 informed air traffic control on Tuesday, Jan. 28, that it had to make a second approach after a helicopter entered its flight path, according toThe Washington Post.A pilot aboard the twin-jet Embraer ERJ 175 reportedly told the tower that the plane had to “go-around” as it approached Memorial Bridge just after 8 p.m. local time.Data from flight tracking websiteFlightAware.comshowed the passenger plane turned abruptly to the west as it neared the bridge, and landed safely at Reagan National Airport at 8:16 p.m.Republic Airways tells PEOPLE in a statement on Friday, Jan. 31, that they “didn’t have any additional information to offer” about the flight at this time.This midair incident occurred about 24 hours beforeAmerican Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac Riveras the passenger plane from Wichita, Kan., approached Reagan on Wednesday, Jan. 29.More than 40 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River as crews search for victims of Wednesday’s crash, according to theAssociated PressandNBC News.The victimsinclude an engaged pilot, U.S. figure skaters, members of the Wichita community and more.A preliminary investigation into the crashwill take 30 days, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman said Friday onGood Morning America. He also said it could take “a year, if not more” for the NTSB to release a final probable cause.Inman promised the board will “find out what happened” in hopes of preventing a similar incident in the future.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“We will be on scene here doing all the recovery of the perishable evidence we need for as long as it takes,” he added.Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday it isclosing access to parts of the two helicopter routesnear the D.C. airport,Reutersreported, citing an agency official. Only police and medical choppers will be allowed between the airport and bridges in the area.

One day before themidair crash in Washington, D.C., another collision was reportedly avoided.

Republic Airways Flight 4514 informed air traffic control on Tuesday, Jan. 28, that it had to make a second approach after a helicopter entered its flight path, according toThe Washington Post.

A pilot aboard the twin-jet Embraer ERJ 175 reportedly told the tower that the plane had to “go-around” as it approached Memorial Bridge just after 8 p.m. local time.

Data from flight tracking websiteFlightAware.comshowed the passenger plane turned abruptly to the west as it neared the bridge, and landed safely at Reagan National Airport at 8:16 p.m.

Republic Airways tells PEOPLE in a statement on Friday, Jan. 31, that they “didn’t have any additional information to offer” about the flight at this time.

This midair incident occurred about 24 hours beforeAmerican Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac Riveras the passenger plane from Wichita, Kan., approached Reagan on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

More than 40 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River as crews search for victims of Wednesday’s crash, according to theAssociated PressandNBC News.

The victimsinclude an engaged pilot, U.S. figure skaters, members of the Wichita community and more.

A preliminary investigation into the crashwill take 30 days, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman said Friday onGood Morning America. He also said it could take “a year, if not more” for the NTSB to release a final probable cause.

Inman promised the board will “find out what happened” in hopes of preventing a similar incident in the future.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“We will be on scene here doing all the recovery of the perishable evidence we need for as long as it takes,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday it isclosing access to parts of the two helicopter routesnear the D.C. airport,Reutersreported, citing an agency official. Only police and medical choppers will be allowed between the airport and bridges in the area.

source: people.com