A terrifying video has emerged, capturing the moment when a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet over Washington, DC. This footage comes as investigators disclose the final exchanges of the ill-fated crew.
Recorded by CCTV and shown at the outset of a three-day National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing, the video displays a sudden bright flash illuminating the night sky above the Potomac River.
Seconds earlier, the military chopper had collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 as it descended into Reagan National Airport.
The Bombardier CRJ700 had been flying from Wichita, Kansas, on January 29 and was just minutes from landing when it was hit.
The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard the two aircraft, including 64 passengers and crew members on the jet, along with three helicopter crew members, making it the deadliest crash involving a US airline in over twenty years.
The Black Hawk, operating as Priority Air Transport 25, had been on a low-level training mission and was flying back to Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
Investigators now believe the crew thought they were flying 100 feet higher than they actually were due to faulty altimeter readings.
According to the NTSB, approximately three minutes prior to the fatal collision, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves instructed co-pilot Capt. Rebecca Lobach to descend to 200 feet from their current altitude of 300 feet.
The footage shows a bright flash lighting up the night sky above the Potomac River
The footage was captured by CCTV and played at the start of a three-day National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing
All 67 people on board the two aircraft were killed, including 63 passengers and crew on the jet and four helicopter crew members
The route down the river on which the chopper was on has a maximum altitude of 200 feet near the airport, according to the NTSB’s presentation.
Two minutes before impact, air traffic control warned them about the approaching passenger plane.
A follow-up warning was issued 90 seconds later. During both instances, the helicopter crew communicated with controllers, stating they could see the jet and requested ‘visual separation’ to avoid it.
The controller also told the helicopter to pass behind the passenger plane, but that instruction was not heard by the crew.
Twenty seconds before the crash, Eaves said: ‘Alright, kinda come left for me ma’am, I think that’s why he’s asking.’ Lobach replied: ‘Sure.’
Eaves added: ‘We’re kinda out towards the middle.’ Lobach responded: ‘Okay fine.’
The helicopter and the jet collided at 8:48pm, causing a bright fiery flash in the night sky.
In the American Airlines cockpit, the pilots used strong language when they noticed the imminent crash, trying to elevate the plane mere seconds before impact.
The American Airlines cockpit, the pilots used expletives when they saw the impending crash and attempted to pull the plane up just seconds before
The final words of the crew on board the chopper was played at the hearing
An audio excerpt of communication between air traffic controllers was also played at the hearing. It showed how they requested the jet to move to a different runway.
After the crash, NTSB investigators carried out test flights using three similar helicopters over the Potomac.
They found that downwash from the rotor blades consistently interfered with barometric altimeter readings, making it appear they were higher than they really were.
The board also heard the Black Hawk crew had been suffering from burnout, raising fresh concerns about their decision-making on the night of the crash.
Air traffic controllers have also come under scrutiny following reports that there were staffing problems at the airport on the day of the crash.
Thousands of pages of records have now been made publicly available as part of the investigations.
Aviation lawyer Bob Clifford, who is representing several of the victims’ families said there was a lot of ‘finger pointing’ and ‘no acceptance of responsibility and accountability’ during the hearing.
An audio excerpt of communication between air traffic controllers was also played at the hearing. It showed how they requested the jet to move to a different runway
