Delve into the latest developments surrounding the investigation of the most catastrophic aviation incident in over twenty years. Here’s the lowdown on where the inquiry currently stands:
A preliminary report regarding the crash is anticipated to be released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in late February. Amidst the ongoing investigation, NTSB officials have been tight-lipped about the crash’s cause.
NTSB investigators have meticulously interviewed all five individuals present in the control tower during the collision, gathered crucial data from the recovered black boxes, secured maintenance and flight logs, and embarked on aligning a timeline of the events that transpired leading up to the crash, synchronizing flight data and communications.
The wreckage from both aircraft will be meticulously examined by investigators in a hangar at DCA. The inspectors will scrutinize cockpit switch positions, instrument readings, and further inspect the helicopter for factors like its altitude during flight, which has come under intense national scrutiny.
Over the weekend, divers were aided in identifying additional items for removal from the Potomac River through a low-altitude TopoBathy lidar flight conducted by NOAA. This innovative technology utilizes a green laser to scan the riverbed, assisting investigators in mapping out its layout.
Scheduled between 2 and 5 a.m. on Saturday, the scan using the green laser was deemed safe for public viewing, although direct eye contact was advised against by local authorities.
Although the retrieval teams had successfully recovered all “major components” of both the helicopter and the plane from the Potomac River earlier in the week, certain parts, such as the right engine and tail rotor, remained unaccounted for as of Thursday, according to the NTSB.
Contributors to this report include Christopher Cann, Chris Kenning, and Minnah Arshad from USA TODAY, and Reuters.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: DC plane crash updates: Investigators scan bottom of the river.
