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A single controller was handling communications for both helicopters and planes, a task usually divided between two people, says New York Times
Staffing at the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., where a mid-air collision occurred, was "not normal for the time of day and traffic volume," according to a report released Thursday.
Citing a preliminary safety report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the collision, The New York Times reported that a single controller was handling communications for both helicopters and planes, a task usually divided between two people.
This adds to the air traffic controller's workload and can make the job more challenging.
The report said one reason is that controllers typically use separate radio frequencies for planes and helicopters. While the controller communicates with both, the pilots may not be able to hear each other.
It also said the tower at the airport has been understaffed for years.
On Wednesday evening, an American Airlines passenger plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in mid-air near the airport.
The aircraft, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was en route from Kansas. The helicopter, which was on a training flight, had three military personnel on board.
Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.
US President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that no one survived the crash as authorities continue to investigate the cause.
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