Investigators digging into the data on the black box from the recent aircraft crash in Washington, D.C., has revealed a serious discrepancy that might provide some pivotal insight into determining the cause of the collision. Findings reveal that the accident between an American Airlines CRJ-700 jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which ultimately led to the death of 67 people, may have been the result of an altitude discrepancy.
A report from Trending Politics News says that the flight recorder for the jet has the plane flying at 325 feet, while data at the control center says the helicopter was flying at 200 feet. The 125-foot difference is now being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, also known as the NTSB.
“Investigators are delving into the conflicting altitude readings from the recent midair collision, exploring several potential causes. They are examining whether there were errors in the reported altitudes, if the helicopter might have surpassed its maximum allowed altitude of 200 feet for its flight path, and the impact of the crew’s use of night-vision goggles,” TPN is reporting. “Recorded alerts from air traffic control to both the helicopter and the airplane, along with the aircraft’s last-second evasive actions, are being analyzed to further understand the dynamics of the incident.”
“That’s what our job is, to figure that out,”said NTSB member Todd Inman, who was clearly frustrated with members of the press pushing hard for details concerning the altitude discrepancies. Investigators are attempting to make the different readings line up with the data from the Black Hawk’s black box, which has been delayed due to it being waterlogged after it’s fall into the Potomac River.
“We currently don’t have the readout from the Black Hawk, so we cannot provide information about the altitude at which the helicopter was flying,” Inman went on to explain, adding that “obviously an impact occurred, and I would say when an impact occurs, that is typically where the altitude of both aircraft were at the moment.”
“Some wanted to give us hugs. Some are just mad and angry,” Inman continued. “They are just all hurt. And they still want answers, and we want to give them answers.”
“Our job is to find the facts,” he stated. “More importantly, our job is to make sure this tragedy doesn’t happen again – regardless of what anyone may be saying.”
Black boxes, or flight recorders, are essential for investigating aircraft incidents. They consist of two devices: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which logs flight parameters like speed, altitude, and engine performance, and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which captures pilot conversations and cockpit sounds. Despite their name, they are bright orange for visibility. Built to withstand extreme conditions, they endure high-impact crashes, intense fires, and deep-sea pressure. Equipped with underwater locator beacons, they emit signals for up to 30 days to aid recovery.
Sounds from the cockpit were recorded by the black boxes along with other kinds of data. The analysis revealed there was some kind of verbal reaction from the crew and it appears the plane was starting to increase pitch. You can then hear the sounds of impact just a second later and that’s where the recording ends.
The report concludes by saying, “An FAA report disclosed that a single controller was managing both helicopter and plane traffic at the time of the incident. While these responsibilities are usually split between two individuals, the airport typically consolidates them into one position after 9:30 p.m. when traffic diminishes.”
"*" indicates required fields
