According to data retrieved from the airliner’s flight recorder, the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 325 feet (99 meters), with a margin of error of 25 feet (7.6 meters), at the time of impact. However, air traffic control data indicated that the Black Hawk helicopter was flying at 200 feet (61 meters). This roughly 100-foot (30-meter) discrepancy remains unexplained.
Investigators are working to clarify these conflicting readings by analyzing data from the helicopter’s black box. However, retrieving the information has been delayed due to water damage. Officials also noted that tower data can sometimes be less precise and will undergo further refinement.
“That’s what we’re here to figure out,” said Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), during a tense press conference on Saturday evening. Inman grew visibly frustrated as reporters pressed him for more details regarding the altitude readings. He acknowledged that there had been internal debate within the investigative team about whether to release the data before gathering additional information.
The crash, which occurred Wednesday night, involved an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 64 passengers. As the jet was preparing to land at Reagan National, it collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers. The helicopter reportedly entered the airliner’s flight path, leading to the fatal midair impact.
“This is a complex investigation with many moving parts,” said NTSB investigator Brice Banning. “Our team is working diligently to gather and analyze all available data.”
Recovery Efforts and Investigation Progress
By Saturday afternoon, recovery teams had pulled the remains of 42 victims from the Potomac River, with 38 positively identified. Officials anticipate retrieving all bodies, though the fuselage of the plane may need to be lifted from the water to recover the remaining victims.
On Friday night, recovery crews attempted to stabilize the helicopter wreckage using a crane but have yet to remove it from the water entirely. A Coast Guard cutter equipped with a crane remained on standby as divers continued searching for remains and debris.
The Army has stated that the helicopter crew was highly experienced and well-acquainted with the airspace around Washington, D.C. Military aircraft frequently conduct training exercises in the area, simulating evacuation routes for government officials in case of a national emergency.
Investigators are reviewing the actions of both the military pilot and air traffic controllers to determine whether human error played a role in the crash. A full NTSB report is expected to take at least a year to complete, but officials hope to release a preliminary report within 30 days.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that other potential factors, such as the helicopter’s altitude and whether the crew was using night vision goggles, are still being examined. The flight recorders from both aircraft have been recovered and are being analyzed.
With over 300 emergency responders involved, the recovery operation has been described as emotionally challenging. “This is heartbreaking work,” Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr. told reporters. “It’s been a tough mission for our teams.”
Trump’s Claims and FAA Restrictions
Amid the nation’s mourning, controversy has emerged over the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed new restrictions on helicopter traffic around Reagan National on Friday. This move followed former President Donald Trump’s social media claim that the Black Hawk helicopter had exceeded its altitude limit.
Trump took to Truth Social to allege that the helicopter had been flying “far above” the permitted 200-foot (60-meter) limit. “That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???” he wrote. His comments reignited a debate over aviation safety, with some critics accusing him of politicizing the tragedy.
The FAA has struggled with staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, and investigators will assess whether those issues played any role in the crash. Officials have confirmed that at least one controller on duty at the time has been interviewed, with more discussions to follow.
Wednesday’s midair collision marks the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since November 12, 2001, when an American Airlines jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in Queens, New York, killing all 260 passengers and five people on the ground.
While air travel remains statistically one of the safest modes of transportation, experts acknowledge that the congested airspace around Reagan National poses unique challenges, even for the most experienced pilots.
