Collision in the Potomac

Last Wednesday, American Airlines Flight 5432 collided into a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, causing 67 deaths including all passengers, pilots, and crew. Thus making it the first major commercial plane crash in almost 16 years. 

So far, out of the 67 victims killed, 55 people have been identified. Among the identified victims aboard Flight 5432 are two elite figure skating teams, one from Russian and one from the United States, a woman traveling home from a work trip, four Maryland labor union members, along with the 12 other unidentified victims. 

Other victims of the collision include the pilots of the Black Hawk helicopter. The pilots have been identified as Captain Rebecca Lobach and Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara of the U.S. Army. These pilots were flying a training mission at the time of the crash and had obtained over 1,000 flight hours, making them fairly experienced in flight. 

In spite of the experience obtained by the pilots, NTSB investigators have now recovered black box data revealing that the pilots were flying at 325 feet high before the crash. Thus, breaking the 200 feet standard set for helicopter traffic by the Federal Aviation Administration. Although, this information is being reviewed to determine if the height data from the Black Hawk is correct, therefore making the investigation into the cause of the crash ongoing. 

At the time of the collision, there were five personnel staffing the air traffic control center. These five people were assigned control of helicopters, along with airplanes, during the crash. Regulations allow one person to take on multiple responsibilities at once, but typically two separate towers are utilized to divide the control of airplanes and helicopters.Pl

Wreckage is currently being pulled out of the Potomac River along with the remains of the victims involved in the collison. Thus leading the ongoing investigation to slow as parts of the airplane and helicopter are being lifted out of the Potomac.