Expert named possible reasons for the collision of an airplane and a helicopter in Washington, D.C.

The collision of a passenger airplane and a military helicopter near the airport near Washington, DC, could have occurred due to a violation of air traffic regulations. Viktor Zabolotsky, honored test pilot of the USSR, told Izvestia on January 30.

According to him, the airplane and helicopter were at the same altitude and were on an intersecting course. The aircraft remained unnoticed by each other because of being in the blind spot.

It is possible that one of the pilots violated traffic rules on the air territory of the airfield, Zabolotsky said. He added that the dispatch service also made a mistake.

"In this situation, the dispatch service definitely should have warned about those obstacles, those machines or aircraft that are in this zone," the honored test pilot of the USSR explained.

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On the night of January 29-30, an American Airlines passenger jet and a Blackhawk military helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.

According to CBS News, at least 18 bodies were found at the scene of the plane crash. The search continues. It is noted that on board the fallen American Airlines plane were 60 passengers and four crew members. In the helicopter was three military.

US President Donald Trump called terrible airplane crash that occurred in Washington. He said that the tragedy could have been avoided if the helicopter crew had changed course. According to the American leader, the airplane was moving on a normal trajectory to land at the airport, while "the helicopter flew straight at the airplane" for a long time.