New details have emerged in the investigation into the devastating American Airlines jet crash last month, which resulted in the deaths of 67 people.
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Investigators are still working to determine what led to the tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., on January 29.
The devastating crash occurred as the commercial airliner was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The collision sent both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, sparking an urgent search-and-rescue effort that quickly turned into a recovery mission. All 64 passengers aboard the plane and the three crew members in the helicopter were killed.
NTSB Gives Update on Investigation
On Friday (February 14), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jennifer Homendy provided an update on the ongoing investigation, revealing that the Black Hawk crew likely had no warning before the fatal crash.
"There's no indication the U.S. Army Black Hawk crew could tell there was an impending collision before its devastating crash with an American Airlines plane in Washington, D.C.," Homendy said.
"We are looking at the possibility of there may be bad data," Homendy explained.
The NTSB has also raised concerns that the helicopter crew may have received incorrect altitude readings in the seconds leading up to the crash.
According to an ABC News report, the two pilots on the Black Hawk had conflicting altitude readings, with one believing they were at 400 feet while the other thought they were at 300 feet. However, investigators have not yet determined the exact altitude of the helicopter at the moment of impact.
Another potential factor in the crash is miscommunication between the air traffic control tower and the Black Hawk crew.
Homendy stated that a critical instruction for the helicopter to fly behind the plane may not have been heard because the pilot may have been transmitting at the same moment, blocking the message.
Black Hawk Was Conducting Training Mission
The Black Hawk was carrying out an annual training flight and a night vision goggle check ride for one of its pilots at the time of the collision. This is a mandatory exam pilots must pass to be qualified for certain flight duties.
Homendy confirmed that the helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight, which could add another layer of complexity to the investigation.
Despite the tragedy, Homendy — along with other top officials, including President Donald Trump — stressed that U.S. air travel remains safe.
As the NTSB continues its probe, investigators will focus on altitude discrepancies, communication failures, and other contributing factors to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
Once again, our thoughts go out to every person impacted by this tragedy.