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3mo ago

Investigators Recover Key Wreckage from Deadly Washington DC Midair Collision

The crash between a passenger plane and a military helicopter killed 67 people as officials probe altitude violations and disabled safety systems.

Salvage crews pull up a part of a Black Hawk helicopter near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
A crane floats on the Potomac River while removing wreckage from an American Airlines plane on Feb. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan. 29, 2025 outside of Washington, D.C.
A crane offloads a piece of wreckage from a salvage vessel onto a flatbed truck, near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A crane offloads a piece of wreckage from a salvage vessel onto a flatbed truck, near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Overview

  • All major wreckage from the January 29 collision between an American Airlines plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter has been recovered from the Potomac River.
  • The crash claimed 67 lives, making it the deadliest US aviation disaster since 2001; there were no survivors.
  • Investigators are analyzing black boxes and debris to determine the collision angle and contributing factors, including the helicopter's altitude exceeding its permitted ceiling by 100 feet.
  • A key safety system, ADS-B, which provides precise tracking data, was turned off on the helicopter during the training mission, raising questions about its necessity in non-combat scenarios.
  • The FAA has launched a review of airports with high levels of mixed air traffic, while President Trump has called for updates to air traffic control systems, citing concerns over outdated technology.