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In the News

A scary Tuesday at Reagan National Airport

Post photographer Michael Williamson happened to spend Tuesday afternoon on the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport, shooting photographs of arriving and departing planes not long after a close call involving two jets taking off from the airport and one trying to land.

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Close call at Reagan National

The near-disaster occurred about 2 p.m., and these images were made later in the afternoon from a boat on the Potomac River. There were thunderheads in the late afternoon and early evening and many incoming planes made adjustments because of weather conditions.

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Williamson, a two-time Pulitzer-winning photographer, was as close as 60 feet from the runway as he took pictures of planes from a boat.

Close call at Reagan National

Williamson, a two-time Pulitzer-winning photographer, was as close as 60 feet from the runway as he took pictures of planes from a boat.

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Williamson was in an 18-foot boat with two other photographers. “Ironically, I’ve been working in Washington for 20 years, but I’d never seen the city from here.”

Close call at Reagan National

Williamson was in an 18-foot boat with two other photographers. “Ironically, I’ve been working in Washington for 20 years, but I’d never seen the city from here.”

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

“I was trying to show views of Washington that I hadn’t seen before, another set of steps from the Lincoln Memorial, but <span>. . . </span>I love airplanes.”

Close call at Reagan National

“I was trying to show views of Washington that I hadn’t seen before, another set of steps from the Lincoln Memorial, but . . . I love airplanes.”

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

“The woman piloting the boat knew something was up.<span> . . .</span> She said the airplanes were flying different routes, maybe factoring in the weather.”

Close call at Reagan National

“The woman piloting the boat knew something was up. . . . She said the airplanes were flying different routes, maybe factoring in the weather.”

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

“We didn’t know a thing about the near miss.” But Williamson noted that few people outside the airport knew about the scary incident until the next day.

Close call at Reagan National

“We didn’t know a thing about the near miss.” But Williamson noted that few people outside the airport knew about the scary incident until the next day.

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Williamson was taking photographs of Marine One, left, as it was making its regular training runs along the Potomac. “Then I saw the plane, and I thought, ‘They're nowhere near each other, but there's a lot of traffic here.’ ”

Close call at Reagan National

Williamson was taking photographs of Marine One, left, as it was making its regular training runs along the Potomac. “Then I saw the plane, and I thought, ‘They're nowhere near each other, but there's a lot of traffic here.’ ”

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

“The little light on the right (of the photograph) here is 18 inches away from me on the boat. I wanted a little light to give it perspective.<span> . . .</span> That plane is 70 feet over me. It was so close that I couldn’t use a long lens.” Williamson took the photograph — he only had time for one — with a 24-millimeter lens.

Close call at Reagan National

“The little light on the right (of the photograph) here is 18 inches away from me on the boat. I wanted a little light to give it perspective. . . . That plane is 70 feet over me. It was so close that I couldn’t use a long lens.” Williamson took the photograph — he only had time for one — with a 24-millimeter lens.

Michael S. Williamson / THE WASHINGTON POST

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