Preliminary Flight Flight Data on the aircraft show conflicting altitude readings: investigators
Preliminary flight data from a deadly plane crash in Washington, DC, It shows conflicting readings about the heights of a passenger aircraft and a helicopter army that collided near the Reagan National Airport and killed all on board two aircraft, investigators said over the weekend.
Data from the Airlines flight recorder showed a height of 325 feet, plus or minus 25 feet, when the collision occurred on Wednesday night, National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSB) Officials told reporters on Saturday. Data in the control tower, however, showed a 200 -foot helicopter Hawk helicopter, which maximized the helicopter height in the area.
About 100 feet of altitude differences in data are yet to be explained.
Investigators are working to find data from the rear helicopter frame, which lasts more time because it became frozen after he plunged into the Potomac River, hoping to reconcile the difference. They also said they plan to purify the tower data, which could be less reliable.
Rescue crews and rescue with cranes near the American Airlines wreck in Rijeka Potomac from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
“This is a complex investigation,” said Bric Banning, in charge of NTSB investigator. “There are a lot of pieces here. Our team works hard to collect this information.”
Forbidden in detail the last moments from two black jet boxes, which recorded a sound in a cockpit and a flight data just before what it became The most upset US air accident Since 2001.
“The crew had a verbal reaction,” Banning said, given that the data recorder showed “an aircraft that began to increase its terrain. The sounds of the impact were about one second later, followed by the end of the recording.”
With the American Capitol in the background, the crane sits in the Potomac River on Sunday, February 2, 2025, near the Airrican Airlines Air Force, who collided with a helicopter for the black Jastreb in Arlington, Virginia. Viewed from Alexandria, Virgina. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaste)
Investigators did not say if these changes in the corner means that pilots are trying to perform by avoiding a maneuver to avoid falling.
The collision happened around 9pm, while the regional jet was preparing to land at the airport. Wichita, Kansas, carried 64 people on board while Three soldiers were on board A helicopter, who apparently flew into the jet path. No one survived the fall.
Member of NTSB Todd Inman expressed frustration to reporters, noting that the Committee gave “several hundred” recommendations Improve the air security who did not act.
“Do you want to do something? Adopt the NTSB recommendation. You will save lives,” he said, adding that he had spent hours with the victims’ families. “I don’t want to meet with these parents again.”
The cursing of American Airlines is passing as members of the family victims in the middle agent between Airrican Airlines and a military helicopter at the end of the runway 33 near the Potomac River at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, on Sunday, February, February, February, February, February, February , February, February, February, February, February, February, February, February, February, Sunday, Sunday,. In Arlington, Virginia. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)
The victims’ families visited the site of the collision on Sunday, and divers examined the submerged wreckage for more remains after the authorities said they had recovered and identified 55 of the 67 people killed.
Officials said they were sure that all the victims would recover from the Coolence River Potomac.
NTSB investigators hope to have a preliminary report within 30 days, although a full investigation could take at least a year.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
