Flight tracking data indicates that the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in a deadly collision with an American Airlines jet in Washington, DC, was flying nearly 100 feet above its maximum allowed altitude. The collision, which occurred on Wednesday (January 29), resulted in no survivors from either aircraft.
Minutes before the crash, the helicopter was flying over East Potomac Park in a specialized corridor known as Route 1, which requires helicopters to fly at or below 200 feet above sea level. As the Black Hawk flew over the Potomac River, it started to climb, reaching an altitude of 300 feet, and then began to turn toward the center of the river, deviating from the standard route.
The helicopter remained at 300 feet above sea level until seconds before the crash, when it began to rapidly descend.
“Based on the data we’re able to see, I think that’s a fair assessment,” Ian Petchenik, spokesperson for FlightRadar24, a flight tracking company, told CNN.
Audio recordings reveal that the helicopter pilot had requested visual separation from the passenger jet, indicating they were aware of its presence. However, the collision still occurred.
The air traffic control tower was understaffed at the time of the crash, with only one controller monitoring both airplane and helicopter traffic.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and said that the black boxes from the American Airlines flight have been recovered. The agency plans to release a preliminary report within 30 days.
Recovery efforts continue at the crash site, with a crane being brought in to assist in reaching victims trapped in the wreckage.
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