The pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight ignored her co-pilot’s warning and made multiple critical errors.
According to a New York Times report, the Black Hawk helicopter crew failed to maintain proper visual separation on January 29, contributing to the tragic collision with American Airlines Flight AA5342.
New findings reveal that the female pilot flying the Black Hawk repeatedly disregarded multiple warnings to lower her altitude and ignored a final directive to turn left — a maneuver that could have prevented the crash and saved 67 lives.
Despite urgent instructions from her male co-pilot, an Army flight instructor, to steer away from the approaching Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft, the pilot did not respond.
“Not only was the Black Hawk flying at an excessive altitude, but in the critical final seconds, the pilot failed to obey her co-pilot’s command to alter course,” the report states.
Responsibility was also attributed to air traffic control, with the report criticizing the controller for not communicating instructions with sufficient clarity or urgency.
The co-pilot reportedly advised the pilot that he believed air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the East River.
“Turning left would have widened the distance between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was approaching Runway 33 at about 300 feet altitude. However, the pilot did not make the turn,” the New York Times reported.
