Wednesday's accident at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington recalled another similar tragedy that occurred 43 years ago, also in January and with the Potomac River as a stage.
The Tragedy occurred on Wednesday night of the 5342 flight of American Airlines at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, known in the aeronautical acronym as DCAHe remembered another similar event that enluta homes 43 years ago. It was at the same air terminal, in January and also a Wednesday.
On January 13, 1982, Air Florida flight 90 fell into the icy waters of the Potomac River minutes after taking off from DCA to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Coincidences
America Airlines reported that aboard the aircraft that collided with a United States army helicopter 60 passengers and four crew members were travelingWhile the Pentagon reported that the military ship was manned by three people. Everyone died, according to authorities and efforts they focused on Thursday in rescuing the bodies of the icy waters of the Potomac River.
In 1982, 69 people and four crew members were traveling on the flight of Air Florida. Unlike the recent fatalityon that occasion four passengers and a crew survived by getting afloat between the ice layers, after an intense snowfall over the region of the US capital.
Take -off attempts
When on January 13, 1982, Boeing 737-222 took off several hours of delay due to climatic conditions from the DCA for a two-hour flight to Florida, did so in order of departure to the East, on the Potomac River and in the direction To the Washington monuments, flying over a pentagon side, an area restricted by national security.
The low temperatures of that day froze the wings sensors of the aircraft, which failed to take off normally, began to vibrate shortly after leaving land and immediately began to lose height and collided with one of the roads of the street bridge 14, also impacting two vehicles.
American 5342 flight operated by the plane PSA Airlines Bombardier Crj700 which impacted on Wednesday the type helicopter Sikorsky H-60it happened when it was heading to track 33 with all normality and in optimal climatic conditions.
The ship had already made the final descent on part of the city of Alexandria, in Virginia, and the Potomac River winding, to be able It flew in the opposite direction also looking to land.
Day and night
The 1982 accident occurred at 15.59 local time, which allowed a rapid action of the rescue bodies of the US capital and full visibility, even some people who were on the bridge of the 14 lent themselves to help.
The case of citizens Roger Olian and Lenny Skutnik is remembered, who launched the frozen Potomac waters to rescue the survivors who had lost strength affected by hypothermia and who failed to hold the rescue strings thrown by helicopters for put them safe.
Lenny Skutnik was an employee of the Congress Budget office, and his feat earned him the bravery medal granted by President Ronald Reagan. Olian, who rescued the only surcharge that survived, was less publicly known.
The American Airlines accident occurred around 21.00 local time, there are no survivors and the authorities still work on the scene – cracked – while maintaining the search for the bodies. The lifeguards have expressed the difficulties of operating in the dark all night diving in extremely cold water.