New DC plane crash images spark fresh concern over Black Hawk pilot's actions
New DC plane crash images spark fresh concern over Black Hawk pilot's actions
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Fresh concern has been sparked over the actions of the Black Hawk pilot involved in the deadly Washington DC crash after new images of the tragedy emerged. The collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday left 67 people dead, including three military personnel on board the helicopter. More than 40 bodies have been recovered as diving teams continue to search the underwater wreckage in the freezing Potomac river.
It is the deadliest incident involving an aircraft in the United States since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Now, new images show the helicopter flying on a direct collision course with the aeroplane above the river, only a few seconds before the moment of impact. The images, released by CNN, have sparked further speculation that the helicopter may have been flying well above the intended 200ft altitude in the busy air traffic area around the US capital, putting it at around 300ft, the same level as passenger aircraft. Earlier today, Donald Trump revealed on his Truth Social account: "The Blackhawk [sic] helicopter was flying too high, by a lot. It was far above the 200 foot limit. That's not really too complicated to understand, is it???".
The three-person Army crew on the UH-60 Blackhawk was conducting a continuity of government planning training mission at the time of the mid-air crash, the US military have confirmed. Military aircraft frequently conduct these raining flights in and around the US capital in order to familiarise them with routes they would fly if evacuating high-ranking officials in the event of a major attack. Investigators have not yet confirmed cause of the collision - though Donald Trump today claimed the helicopter was flying "too high" and above the 200ft limit. He had previously suggested that "diversity hires" of disabled people in air control may have caused the crash.
Diving teams returned to the Potomac river on Friday morning, scanning the shoreline under rainy skies as investigators hunted clues into the midiar collision. Washington DC Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr told a news conference that of the 41 bodies pulled from the river, 28 had been positively identified. He said next of kin notifications had been made to 18 families, and he expects all 67 bodies of the dead will eventually be recovered.
