Preliminary DC plane crash flight data shows conflicting altitude readings: investigators

Preliminary formation information from the deadly level clang successful Washington, D.C., shows conflicting readings astir the altitudes of a rider pitchy and Army chopper that collided adjacent Reagan National Airport and killed everyone connected committee the 2 aircraft, investigators said implicit the weekend.

Data from the American Airlines formation recorder showed an altitude of 325 feet, positive oregon minus 25 feet, erstwhile the collision happened Wednesday night, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials told reporters connected Saturday. Data successful the power tower, though, showed the Black Hawk chopper astatine 200 feet, the maximum allowed altitude for helicopters successful the area.

The astir 100-foot altitude discrepancy successful the information has yet to beryllium explained.

Investigators are moving to retrieve information from the helicopter’s backmost box, which is taking much clip due to the fact that it became waterlogged aft submerging into the Potomac River, successful hopes of reconciling the difference. They besides said they program to refine the operation data, which could beryllium little reliable. 

55 VICTIMS IN WASHINGTON, DC MIDAIR COLLISION PULLED FROM POTOMAC RIVER AS RECOVERY OPERATION CONTINUES

Rescue and salvage crews with a crane enactment adjacent the wreckage of an American Airlines pitchy successful the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport connected Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, successful Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

"This is simply a analyzable investigation," said Brice Banning, NTSB researcher successful charge. "There are a batch of pieces here. Our squad is moving hard to stitchery this data."

Banning elaborate the past moments from the jet's 2 achromatic boxes, which captured dependable successful the cockpit and formation information conscionable earlier what became the deadliest U.S. aviation accident since 2001.

"The unit had a verbal reaction," Banning said, with the information recorder showing "the airplane opening to summation its pitch. Sounds of interaction were audible astir 1 2nd later, followed by the extremity of the recording."

With the U.S. Capitol successful the background, a crane sits successful the Potomac River connected Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, adjacent the wreckage of an American Airlines pitchy that collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk chopper successful Arlington, Virginia., arsenic seen from Alexandria, Virgina. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Investigators did not accidental whether that alteration successful space meant that pilots were trying to execute an evasive maneuver to debar the crash.

The collision happened astir 9 p.m. EST portion the determination pitchy was preparing to onshore astatine the airport. The pitchy from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 64 radical onboard, portion three soldiers were connected board the helicopter, which seemingly flew into the jet’s path. No 1 survived the crash.

VP VANCE CALLS ON US ‘TO DO A BETTER JOB’ WITH AVIATION SAFETY AFTER ‘INCREDIBLY HEARTBREAKING’ DC PLANE CRASH

NTSB subordinate Todd Inman expressed vexation to reporters, noting that the committee has made "several hundred" recommendations to improve aviation safety that person not been acted upon.

"You privation to bash thing astir it? Adopt the proposal of the NTSB. You’ll prevention lives," helium said, adding that helium has spent hours with victims' families since the crash. "I don’t privation to person to conscionable with those parents similar that again."

An American Airlines pitchy passes arsenic household members of the victims of a midair collision betwixt an American Airlines pitchy and an Army chopper basal astatine the extremity of runway 33 adjacent the wreckage tract successful the Potomac River astatine Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, connected Sunday, Feb. 2, successful Arlington, Virginia.  (AP/Jose Luis Magana)

Families of victims visited the clang tract connected Sunday and divers scoured the submerged wreckage for much remains aft authorities said they've recovered and identified 55 of the 67 radical killed.

Officials said they are assured each the victims volition beryllium recovered from the chilly Potomac River.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

NTSB investigators anticipation to person a preliminary study wrong 30 days, though a afloat probe could instrumentality astatine slightest a year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.