A mid-air collision over the Potomac River near Washington D.C. occurred on Jan. 29 at 8:47 p.m., between a regional American Airlines passenger jet that departed from Wichita, KS., and a Black Hawk military helicopter that was traveling south along the river during a training flight. The 64 passengers on the American Airlines commercial aircraft were all killed in the collision.
Released audio communications revealed that at 8:47 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the air traffic control tower directed the Black Hawk helicopter to pass behind the plane, which apparently flew into the plane’s path. Moments later, there was a “verbal reaction” from the flight crew.
Investigators also said that data revealed at the same moment of this “verbal reaction” that the aircraft began to increase pitch just before the impact. However, they did not say whether or not this change in angle was the pilot’s attempts to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid the collision.
According to a government report, Reagan National Airport was understaffed during the crash that Wednesday, U.S. media reports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the U.S. has had a chronic understaffing issue in air traffic control.
Two sources told CBS and BBC’s U.S. news partner that one air traffic controller was put in charge of directing helicopters, as well as some planes going in and out of the airport, which is a job usually done by two people.
Data from the commercial jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude at 99 meters (325 feet), National Transportation Safety Board officials told reporters. Data from the control tower, however, showed the Black Hawk helicopter at 61 meters (200 feet) at the time of the crash.
Investigators hope to reconcile the altitude differences of the unexplainable 30 meter (100 feet) discrepancy from the helicopter’s black box, which is taking more time to retrieve due to its submerging in the Potomac River. They also say they plan to make efforts to refine the tower data.
Unfortunately, this day will be remembered as the deadliest aviation tragedy to have occurred in the U.S. since 2001.
