Emergency responders and investigators are diligently working at the site of a catastrophic plane crash in Washington DC that claimed 67 lives, recovering black boxes and planning to lift debris to further their inquiry into the collision's cause.
Investigation Underway After Fatal Washington DC Plane Crash as Black Box Recovered
Investigation Underway After Fatal Washington DC Plane Crash as Black Box Recovered
Rescue efforts intensify for the victims of a tragic collision involving an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter, as authorities seek to uncover the causes behind the disaster.
The cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as the black box, has been recovered from the helicopter involved in the plane crash that resulted in the loss of 67 lives at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday. Emergency teams have increased operational capacity over the weekend to gather debris from the site. The incident saw an American Airlines flight, which carried 64 passengers, collide with an Army Black Hawk helicopter that had three personnel onboard. In light of this tragic event, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed restrictions on helicopter traffic in the area, citing concerns over airspace congestion.
As of Friday, search and rescue teams have identified 28 victims, with 41 bodies recovered from the water. Recovery of the remaining bodies is contingent on the successful removal of the plane from the riverbed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed they had retrieved black boxes from the passenger plane wreckage shortly after the incident. NTSB member Todd Inman highlighted that once the moisture is removed from the recorders, essential data will be accessible shortly.
The U.S. Navy is scheduled to commence major salvage operations on Saturday, requiring the extraction of aircraft parts from the water before divers can conduct further searches. Authorities are also planning to map the debris pattern to analyze the collision’s effects on both aircraft. Crane operations are set to begin on Sunday to aid the recovery efforts, which have involved over 500 personnel working round the clock since the crash.
Inaman addressed inquiries regarding air traffic control management, noting that officials intend to evaluate the behavior of the controllers, particularly during the 72 hours preceding the crash. Amid ongoing investigations, reports have surfaced indicating one air traffic controller was responsible for overseeing both helicopters and planes in the area.
President Donald Trump has made comments regarding potential contributing factors to the incident, suggesting that the helicopter was flying too high and that diversity hiring practices within the FAA might have contributed to safety concerns. Inman, however, emphasized the NTSB's commitment to uncovering factual details surrounding the accident, stating that their primary mission is to prevent such tragedies in the future, independent of external conjectures. Continued interviews with air traffic control staff are ongoing as investigation efforts advance.
