Tragic Collision: Black Box Data May Hold Clues to Deadly Plane and Helicopter Crash
One of the deadliest U.S. air collisions in recent years occurred when an American Airlines plane crashed into a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Tragically, all passengers and crew aboard both aircraft are presumed dead. The jet was carrying 64 people, while the Black Hawk had three military personnel onboard at the time of the incident.
According to the Daily Mail, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed that the flight data recorder and black box recovered from the DC aircraft contain crucial altitude readings that could help determine the cause of the crash. Initial reports indicate that American Airlines Flight 5342 was cruising at approximately 325 feet, with a margin of error of 25 feet. Meanwhile, control tower data shows the Black Hawk was flying at an altitude of about 200 feet.
Experts are puzzled by the roughly 100-foot discrepancy in altitude readings. If the collision occurred at the altitude reported for the plane, it would have happened above the maximum safe operating altitude for helicopters in the area. Investigators are now working to retrieve data from the helicopter’s black box, which was submerged in the icy waters of the Potomac River and became waterlogged. The recovery and analysis of this data could be key to reconciling the altitude differences and understanding what went wrong.
Brice Banning, the NTSB investigator leading the probe, emphasized the complexity of the investigation. “This is a complex investigation. There are a lot of pieces here. Our team is working hard to gather this data,” he said. Banning also revealed that the jet’s black box captured the crew’s verbal reactions as the plane began to increase its pitch. Sounds of impact were heard approximately one second later, followed by the end of the recording.
President Trump weighed in on the tragedy, suggesting that the helicopter was flying “too high” and “far above its 200-foot limit.” He added, “That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???”
As the investigation continues, authorities hope the data from both black boxes will provide answers to this devastating incident. Please share this article with your family and friends to keep them informed.
