Investigators Reveal New Findings on Fatal Midair Collision Over the Potomac

On January 29, a tragic incident took place over the Potomac River when a passenger plane carrying 64 people collided with an Army helicopter. The collision resulted in the loss of 67 lives, leaving many people bewildered and seeking answers about how this disaster could have occurred. Among the victims were men returning from a hunting trip, U.S. figure skaters, and the Army helicopter’s crew chief, Ryan O’Hara.

Initial Findings After the D.C. Crash

Preliminary reports have suggested that the crash may have been caused by conflicting altitude readings between the two aircraft. The maximum allowed altitude for a Black Hawk helicopter is 200 feet. On the night of the crash, the crew reported that their helicopter was at this altitude. However, the passenger jet’s flight recorder showed it flying at a height of around 325 feet, give or take 25 feet. This created a difference of about 100 feet between the aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the collision, is looking into these conflicting altitudes to determine the cause of the crash. According to NPR, NTSB representatives stated that the helicopter was on a training mission and may have been flying higher than allowed. This could have contributed to the collision.

Investigators also suspect that the Army helicopter crew might not have been wearing night vision goggles. These are usually used during training exercises, like the one the helicopter was on that night. The NTSB is trying to retrieve data from the helicopter’s black box, but both aircraft crashed into the Potomac, causing a delay as the black box is now waterlogged.

In connection with this tragic event, Captain Sully Sullenberger commented,

“We have to realize how many things have to go right every day for us to have this now ultra-safe transportation industry. Any lapse could potentially be fatal, even though we have a lot of safety layers in there. If all the dominos line up in the wrong way, we can have, on rare occasions, a catastrophic event.”

Challenges in the Investigation

Brice Banning, the NTSB investigator in charge, noted the complexity of the investigation, saying, “This is a complex investigation. There are a lot of pieces here. Our team is working hard to gather this data.”

Additionally, NTSB member Todd Inman voiced his frustration over the lack of action on the board’s recommendations. He stated that the board has made “several hundred” recommendations that have not been implemented. Inman stressed,

“You want to do something about it? Adopt the recommendation of the NTSB. You’ll save lives. I don’t want to have to meet with those parents like that again.”