Figure skaters plane crash: Kanpur to Lyon, 5 times Bombardier CRJ700 made news for wrong reasons ahead of US mid-air collision

A Bombardier CRJ700 flight crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday due to a midair collision with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, claiming several lives. While the military chopper reportedly had three personnel on board, the plane was carrying American and Russian figure skaters who were returning from a training camp in Wichita, Kansas, when tragedy struck. The American Eagle Flight 5342 was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, according to the airline's parent company American Airlines. However, it was fully owned by its subsidiary PSA Airlines.

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It was not immediately known how many lives were lost in all and how many survived the midair crash.

Bombardier CRJ700: A hugely popular jet aircraft that revolutionised civil aviation 

The ill-fated plane was identified as N530EA by the Federal Aviation Administration which was reportedly built in 2010. The 70-seater Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft are a mainstay in America's regional commercial aviation. Quoting aviation data company Cirium, The Guardian reported. There are about 260 Bombardier CRJ700s in use currently. 

Bombardier Incorporated is a leading Canadian transportation manufacturer, which officially launched the CRJ series jets in 1997. According to GlobalAir, the aeroplane boasts a maximum speed of 903 km/h and can reach altitudes up to 41,000 ft.

The CRJ700 series includes three weight variants: the 700, 701, and 702, each available in standard, ER, and LR weight options. Its introduction was a game-changer in the civil aviation sector as it offered an economically viable solution for flights to smaller hubs that larger aircraft could not serve profitably. This strategic move increased regional market demand and enhanced passenger connectivity to major air hubs. The company claims that the CRJ series accounted for over 20% of all jet departures in North America and operated in excess of 200,000 flights per month globally as of 2015.

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The final CRJ to be produced, a CRJ900, was delivered to USA's SkyWest Airlines in 2021 as Bombardier's service and support activities transferred to a new Montreal-based company, MHI RJ Aviation Group in 2020.

Five times Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft made news for the wrong reasons

FRANCE: On 23 January 2020, a Bombardier CRJ700  operated by Air France subsidiary ‘HOP!’ approaching Lyon Saint-Exupéry from Lille in freezing fog conditions deviated from the required flight path and reached a minimum of 265 feet agl before a go around was initiated. The Captain involved was relatively new to type and had not previously flown such an approach in actual low visibility conditions. The Investigation was not able to determine exactly what contributed to the approach and initial go around being misflown but identified a number of possible contributors.

USA: On 2 July 2017, the left engine of a Bombarier CRJ 700A operated by SkyWest Airlines exiting the runway after landing at Denver from Aspen caught fire and continued burning after the aircraft had been stopped on the taxiway and the engine shut down. The Investigation found that the fuel supply to the fuel-operated engine performance valve had failed and the quantity of fuel which then leaked had overwhelmed the engine cowl drain capacity and ignited.

FRANCE: On 17 March 2017, certain tragedy was avoided in Lyon when the crew of the y Air France subsidiary HOP!-operated aircraft notoced a departing Airbus A319 on runway 35L accelerating towards their intended crossing position and braked to a stop before entering the runway. The Investigation found that both aircraft had complied with all instructions issued by the TWR controller and concluded that safety management processes at the airport were not commensurate with the incursion risk involved and had been unchanged since an almost identical incident a year previously.

FRANCE: On 16 October 2012, Air France subsidiary Brit Air's aircraft from Paris Orly to Lorient overran the runway during a night landing in normal ground visibility at Lorient by 200 metres damaging ground installations in the process. The aircraft sustained significant damage and an emergency evacuation took place but there no injuries to the 57 occupants.

Bombardier Global 7500 | Reuters

INDIA: On 20 July 2011, a Bombardier CRJ 700 being operated on a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Dehli to Kanpur by Alliance Air overran the landing runway at destination after a late touchdown in normal daylight visibility. Although an emergency evacuation was not necessary and none of the 59 occupants were injured, the aircraft was slightly damaged. An investigation attributed the event to the commanders continued attempt at a landing when a late touchdown became increasingly likely.

(Data via https://skybrary.aero/)

Bombardier Global 7500 | Reuters