Salvage crews in Arlington, Virginia have successfully removed a significant portion of a commercial jet from the Potomac River near Washington’s Reagan National Airport on Monday. This comes after a tragic midair collision last week that resulted in the loss of 67 lives. The process of retrieving the plane is expected to continue for several days, followed by efforts to remove the military helicopter involved in the incident.
The collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter over Washington D.C. last Wednesday marked the deadliest air disaster in the United States since 2001. Authorities have managed to recover and identify 55 of the 67 victims, and there is confidence that all will be found. Over 300 responders have been actively involved in the recovery operation, with the assistance of two Navy barges for lifting heavy wreckage.
Strict protocols are being followed by divers and salvage workers during the operation. Colonel Francis B. Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers emphasized that the respectful recovery of remains takes precedence over all other activities. The recovered parts of the two aircraft are being transported by flatbed trucks to a hangar for further investigation.
Family members of the victims were escorted to the Potomac River bank on Sunday for a somber gathering near the crash site. The passengers of the ill-fated plane included figure skaters returning from a championship event and hunters coming back from a trip. The helicopter crew members were identified as Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, and Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach.
Federal investigators are diligently working to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the collision. While a comprehensive investigation typically takes a year or longer, a preliminary report is expected within 30 days. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has noted conflicting altitude readings between the jet and the helicopter moments before impact, as well as changes in the jet’s pitch recorded just before the crash.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of aviation safety, even in a busy airspace like that around Reagan Airport. Experts emphasize the overall safety of air travel while acknowledging the challenges posed by complex flight environments.
Christopher Weber in Los Angeles provided additional information, stating that the data from the helicopter’s black box was compared to the tower data, with the intention of improving the accuracy of the latter, as it may be less reliable.
