Let’s Talk About It: The Communication Podcast with Dr. Sherry Stancil
Let’s Talk About It is your quick, relatable stop for real conversations about communication, conflict, and connection. Hosted by Dr. Sherry Stancil, a communication expert and storyteller, each microlearning episode (under 5 minutes) reflects on everyday moments—from rush hour frustrations to workplace challenges—offering practical tips to navigate them with empathy, intention, and skill.
Let’s Talk About It: The Communication Podcast with Dr. Sherry Stancil
✈️ A Single Miscommunication Can Cost Lives
In today's episode of Let’s Talk About It, we’re breaking down how communication barriers played a critical role in the tragic American Airlines crash. Using the Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication, we’ll analyze how breakdowns in messaging, noise, and feedback contributed to the disaster—and what lessons we can take from it.
Welcome to Let’s Talk About It—the podcast that highlights the art of interpersonal communication. From handling tough conversations to building stronger connections, we’re here to explore the skills that help you thrive in work, relationships, and beyond. So, grab your coffee, get cozy, and let’s talk about it!
On a cold evening in Washington, D.C., an American Airlines jet prepared for landing. At the same time, a military helicopter maneuvered nearby. In just seconds, miscommunication between the flight crew, air traffic controllers, and the helicopter pilot led to a catastrophic collision.
Today, we are talking about communication lessons from the American Airlines crash.
Communication is more than just speaking or writing—it’s about ensuring the message sent is the message received. As an educator of communication, I emphasize this to my students and clients constantly. Nowhere is this principle more critical than in high-stakes environments like aviation, where a single miscommunication can have catastrophic consequences.
The tragic American Airlines crash in Washington, D.C., serves as a sobering reminder of how barriers in communication can lead to devastating outcomes. The communication process involves several key elements—sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback, noise, and context. When barriers disrupt this process, the results can be disastrous.
What Went Wrong?
Physical Barriers – The congested airspace created communication challenges, increasing the risk of missed or misunderstood messages.
Psychological Barriers – High-pressure environments impact cognitive processing. Stress and overload may have led to crucial misinterpretations.
Language & Semantic Barriers – Even in aviation’s standardized protocols, ambiguity in phrasing or incomplete acknowledgments can result in confusion.
Technological Barriers – Radio communication, while essential, has limitations. If system alerts failed or situational awareness was lacking, the margin for error increased.
Perceptual Barriers – The helicopter pilot’s perception of the airliner’s location versus its actual position appears to have played a role in the miscalculation.
Organizational Barriers – Reports indicate the air traffic control tower was understaffed, forcing controllers to multitask, increasing the likelihood of oversight.
Feedback & Confirmation Failures – Aviation safety relies on clear, repeated confirmations. Just 30 seconds before impact, an air traffic controller asked if the helicopter had the airliner in sight—yet there was no recorded response. That gap in feedback contributed to the tragedy.
These barriers aren’t just present in aviation—they exist in every workplace, industry, and daily interaction. Miscommunication leads to project failures, workplace conflicts, and even life-or-death situations
So, how can we improve?
1. Prioritize clarity and confirmation in communication.
2. Recognize stress and overload as factors that impair message processing.
3. Ensure technology supports, rather than replaces, active communication.
4. Address organizational challenges that create systemic miscommunication risks.