The collision involving an American Airlines aircraft and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter represents one of the most fatal aerial incidents in the United States in recent years. Regrettably, it is presumed that all individuals aboard the aircraft and the helicopter are deceased.
The jet was transporting 64 individuals, whereas the Black Hawk helicopter had three military personnel on board at the time of the incident.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, the National Transportation Safety Board has disclosed that the flight data recorder and black box recovered from the DC aircraft disaster contain altitude readings that may provide insight into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
American Airlines Flight 5342 was operating at an altitude of approximately 325 feet, with an allowable margin of error of 25 feet on either side. Information obtained from the control tower indicated that the Black Hawk was operating at an altitude of approximately 200 feet.
Experts have not yet provided an explanation for the approximately 100-foot discrepancy in altitude measurements. Nevertheless, if the accident occurred at the altitude at which the aircraft was reported, the collision transpired at an elevation exceeding the maximum operational limit for helicopters in that region.
Currently, investigators are endeavouring to extract data from the helicopter’s black box, which has become saturated following its immersion in the frigid waters of the Potomac River.
It is hoped that they will be able to resolve the discrepancies in altitude.
Regarding the current investigation, Brice Banning, the investigator in command from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated, “This is a complex investigation.” There are numerous components present in this context. Our team is diligently engaged in the collection of this data.
Furthermore, he stated that the jet’s black boxes indicated the crew’s verbal responses. As the aircraft commenced its ascent in pitch, Banning noted, “the sounds of impact became discernible approximately one second thereafter, succeeded by the conclusion of the recording.”
President Trump provided his perspective on the incident involving the collision. He stated that the helicopter was operating at an altitude that was “excessively high,” and “significantly beyond its 200-foot limit.” He remarked, “That is not particularly complex to comprehend, is it?”
