NTSB provides update on Washington, D.C., plane crash
Source: NTSB
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have delivered their first on-camera briefing nearly two weeks after the tragic mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet on January 29. The accident, which occurred as the jet was attempting to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulted in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board.
Mid-Air Collision Near Washington, D.C.: PSA Airlines CRJ-700 and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Collision Details and Altitude Concerns
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy provided details about the circumstances leading up to the crash. She confirmed that the collision occurred 278 feet above the river while the Black Hawk helicopter was supposed to operate at no more than 200 feet. However, Homendy noted that investigators are still analyzing data to determine whether the helicopter’s altimeters displayed accurate altitude information.
“We're seeing conflicting information in the data,” Homendy said, highlighting an ongoing challenge in the investigation.
Communication Breakdown Between the Helicopter and Air Traffic Control
Investigators have also discovered potential issues with radio communications. The Black Hawk pilots did not fully hear some transmissions from air traffic control. One particularly critical transmission—issued just 17 seconds before impact—instructed the helicopter to “pass behind the CRJ.” However, Homendy stated that the Black Hawk crew might not have received the message.
“That’s because the helicopter crew was already making a radio transmission, and part of what the controller said was interrupted and ‘stepped on,’” she explained.
Seconds Before Impact
The American Airlines regional jet’s crew became aware of the helicopter only one or two seconds before the crash. In response, the pilots pulled the aircraft’s nose up by approximately nine degrees to avoid the collision. Meanwhile, the Black Hawk continued on its trajectory at the same speed and direction until the moment of impact.
Night-Vision Goggles and Visibility Concerns
Further complicating the situation, the NTSB examines the role of night-vision goggles worn by the Black Hawk crew. Homendy noted that such goggles can significantly limit a pilot's field of vision. To better understand what the helicopter pilots could see in the moments leading up to the accident, the NTSB is working on a full visual simulation of their perspective.
“We're going to have to see what was possible for them to see at the time leading up to the collision and the accident sequence,” Homendy stated.
Ongoing Investigation
While the preliminary findings have provided some clarity, the NTSB’s full investigation is expected to take at least a year. Investigators will continue to analyze data, assess communications, and reconstruct the visual and operational conditions that contributed to this devastating accident.
