A man strolling with his dog beside the Potomac River in Northern Virginia on Sunday discovered what seems to be an airplane seat and a tray table, alongside other airplane wreckage.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the debris, suspected to be from the mid-air collision that occurred in January between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, which resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals.
Andrew Guevara, who lives near the trail along the Potomac River, said he spotted the airline seat cushion while walking his dog.
Debris, which includes an airline cushion seat found along the Potomac River, is potentially linked to the mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in January.
Courtesy Andrew Guevara
“It kind of caught my eye, so I kept on looking at it. And, you know, your brain’s trying to put two and two together,” Guevara mentioned to ABC News. He noted recognizing the lock mechanism resembling a tray table, the rectangular pocket at the bottom, and the shape of the headrest.
“It just kind of just struck me that that’s what it could be, and knowing what happened back in January, I sort of logically concluded that it would be,” Guevara remarked.
The Alexandria, Virginia, Police Department verified a call they received about the wreckage in the Potomac, and the debris was subsequently secured by the D.C. Harbor Patrol.
The D.C. police were notified and are now coordinating with the NTSB to transfer the possession of the wreckage to the agency, the department said.
Debris, including an airline cushion seat, that washed up the Potomac River is possibly related to the mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in January.
Courtesy Andrew Guevara
“We are taking possession of the item and will evaluate it and store it until it can be transferred to the remainder of the wreckage from the DCA midair accident. If any additional wreckage is located, it will undergo the same process,” the NTSB said in a statement to ABC.
Guevara said he wanted to make sure the apparent wreckage made it to the right place.
“It’s part of, not only an investigation, but it’s part of the unfortunate events that happened back in January,” he said. “So I just wanted to make sure that those pieces aren’t just left there.”
Guevara’s discovery was first reported by local D.C. station Fox 5 DC.
