LONDON- A Ryanair (FR) Boeing 737 carrying 172 passengers and six crew members nearly collided with a helicopter above London after a cockpit miscommunication led to a significant altitude drop.
The incident occurred on March 8, 2024, as the aircraft approached Stansted Airport from Szczecin, Poland.
Photo: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 – Free photo on PixabayRyanair Plane Escape Collision with Helicopter
The near-miss happened when the co-pilot failed to inform the captain that the autopilot had been disengaged. While cruising at 3,000 feet, the co-pilot transferred control to the commander to prepare the computer systems for landing. Unaware that both autopilot and auto-thrust systems were inactive, the captain temporarily lost control of the aircraft.
The Boeing 737 subsequently descended approximately 550 feet below its authorized altitude, dropping into airspace not approved by Air Traffic Control. During this unauthorized descent, a helicopter was operating at around 2,000 feet in the vicinity.
Air accident investigators reported that the Ryanair aircraft came within 300 feet vertically and 1.7 nautical miles horizontally of the helicopter.
The captain managed to regain control of the aircraft and return to the assigned 3,000-foot altitude before safely landing at Stansted Airport. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has since released its official report on the incident.
Photo: Ryanair, EI-DCW, Boeing 737-8AS | Anna Zvereva | FlickrNear-Miss Report
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch report provided additional insights into the cockpit communication breakdown that led to the Ryanair aircraft’s unauthorized descent.
The co-pilot admitted this was his first time transferring control during manual flight and acknowledged his unfamiliarity with the precise callouts specified in the Flight Crew Operating Manual.
The report stated that while the co-pilot failed to explicitly mention he was flying manually, he assumed the commander understood this fact. It further noted that standard aviation practice dictates a verbal “I have control” confirmation after control transfer, which apparently did not occur.
The investigation detailed the rapid descent, indicating that “shortly thereafter, while the aircraft was still in the left turn, the commander noticed that the aircraft was descending and had descended about 550ft. He promptly took control and climbed the aircraft back to 3,000ft; the aircraft had descended 600ft in total during the descent.”
Following the incident, Ryanair expanded their manual to ensure precise callouts during aircraft control transfers. The report also clarified that the parameters for a short-term conflict alert between the aircraft were not triggered, explaining why no automated warning activated during the close encounter with the helicopter.
National Air Traffic Services measurements confirmed the closest point of approach between the two aircraft as 1.7 nautical miles horizontally and 300 feet vertically.
The investigation emphasized that monitoring pilots must regularly check flight instruments even when completing cockpit tasks, and that control should be transferred back if actions need verification.
The report concluded by highlighting how “distractions and quick decisions can lead to a loss of control of an aircraft, even for a small period of time.”
Photo: NTSBAmerican Plane Collides with Helicopter
A catastrophic mid-air collision between American Airlines (AA) Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter killed all 67 occupants aboard both aircraft on January 29, 2025. The crash occurred over the Potomac River at 8:47 p.m., approximately half a mile from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s runway 33.
The Bombardier CRJ700 airliner, operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle, carried 64 passengers and crew from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, designated Priority Air Transport 25, contained three crew members conducting a required annual night vision goggle evaluation flight from Davison Army Airfield in Fairfax County.
Flight 5342 maintained an altitude of approximately 300 feet during final approach when the collision occurred. Both aircraft had established communication with air traffic control before the crash. The helicopter crew reported visual contact with the airliner twice and indicated they would maintain separation.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report with urgent safety recommendations on March 11, highlighting the dangerously narrow vertical separation between the runway approach path and the helicopter route. The NTSB chair criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to address numerous near-miss alerts reported over the past decade.
The FAA responded on January 31 by restricting helicopter flights near the airport. Officials partially closed both Route 4 (where the collision occurred) and Route 1 (connecting Georgetown to Rosslyn), limiting access to police, medical, air defense, and presidential transport flights only. PSA Airlines retired flight number 5342, replacing the Wichita-Washington National route with Flight 5677.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated in a video message that the airliner pilots were experienced and announced the establishment of a dedicated hotline for families of Flight 5342 passengers. Aviation safety expert Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger advocated for expanded safety zones and flight pattern restrictions following the incident.
President Donald Trump received a briefing shortly after the collision. After midnight, he questioned air traffic controller actions on Truth Social, suggesting the incident was preventable, and criticized the helicopter crew for flying at excessive altitude. Trump later issued a formal statement describing the crash as a “terrible accident,” expressing gratitude to emergency responders and offering condolences for the victims.
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