- Title: Data shows helicopter in DC air crash may have been too high - NTSB
- Date: 2nd February 2025
- Summary: ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 01, 2025) (REUTERS) NTSB (NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD) OFFICIALS WALKING TO PODIUM WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NTSB (NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD) MEMBER, TODD INMAN, SAYING: “We will find out what happened, and we will do everything we can to prevent it, but I don't want anyone to think becau
- Embargoed: 16th February 2025 01:04
- Keywords: American Airlines Black Hawk helicopter NTSB Trump flight recorder plane crash
- Location: ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES
- City: ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Air Accidents,Disaster/Accidents,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA001806701022025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have determined the CRJ700 airplane was at 325 feet (91 meters), plus or minus 25 feet, at the time of impact, officials said at a Saturday (February 01) evening news briefing.
The information was based on data recovered from the jet's flight data recorder - the "black box" that tracks the aircraft's movements, speed and other parameters.
The new detail suggests the Army helicopter was flying above 200 feet (61 meters), the maximum altitude for the route it was using.
Preliminary data indicates the control tower's radar showed the helicopter at 200 feet at the time of the accident, though officials said the information has not been confirmed.
"That's what our job is, to figure that out," NTSB board member Todd Inman told reporters when asked what could explain the discrepancy.
Inman also said at Saturday's briefing that the helicopter's training flight would typically include the use of night-vision goggles.
Data confirms that the air traffic controller alerted the helicopter to the presence of the CRJ700 about two minutes before the crash.
One second before impact, the crew aboard the American flight had a "verbal reaction," according to the plane's cockpit voice recorder, and flight data shows the plane's nose began to rise, officials said.
The official said an automated radio transmission alerted "traffic, traffic, traffic," was heard on the voice recorder and then sounds of the collision were heard before the recording ends.
(Production: Ashraf Fahim; Jayla Whitfield-Anderson) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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