New video clips have emerged showing the tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington DC’s Potomac River. The accident, which happened at night, resulted in both aircraft crashing into the river, triggering large-scale recovery efforts.
Multiple Video Angles Provide New Insights
Initially, only grainy CCTV footage of the crash was available, offering limited details due to poor lighting. The incident involved American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 under the American Eagle brand. It had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard, flying from Wichita (ICT) to Washington National Airport (DCA).
The US Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, with three people onboard, collided with the jet at low altitude. Today, new high-resolution video footage surfaced, showing the collision from multiple angles. The clips, reportedly obtained by CNN, reveal the low-altitude nature of the crash, as the regional jet spiraled down into the river after being hit side-on by the helicopter.
In the video, the PSA Airlines CRJ700 is seen making a seemingly normal approach toward runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Suddenly, the Black Hawk, traveling fast and at a low altitude, crosses its path and strikes the side of the plane. The impact sent both aircraft down, with debris scattered across the river.
Crane Deployed to Aid Recovery Efforts
Due to the severity of the crash and the freezing waters of the Potomac River, rescue operations quickly turned into a recovery mission for the bodies of the victims. The US Coast Guard, along with multiple agencies, is leading the efforts to retrieve the bodies and debris.
So far, the recovery team is still searching for 14 victims who remain missing. To help divers access parts of the plane’s submerged fuselage, authorities are deploying a large crane to the crash site. However, sources suggest that the crane’s full deployment will take another 24-48 hours due to the complexities of the operation.
Investigating the Role of Night Vision Goggles
A critical part of the investigation focuses on whether the helicopter crew could see the CRJ700 before the collision. The US Army is specifically looking into whether the Black Hawk pilots were using night vision goggles at the time.
Jonathan Koziol, Chief of Staff of an Army Aviation division, explained the significance of the goggles:
“Night vision goggles improve visibility, especially in low-light conditions. However, we also allow pilots to fly without them. Given the darkness over the water, goggles could have made a difference.”
He added that determining the altitudes and flight paths of both aircraft will be essential in understanding the cause of the crash.
This tragic incident has left authorities and aviation experts scrambling to understand what went wrong. While the new footage sheds light on the mid-air collision, key questions remain unanswered. The recovery mission continues, with hopes that retrieving the aircraft’s fuselage and black boxes will provide more clarity. Investigators are also keen to understand whether human error, equipment issues, or visibility problems contributed to the crash. With the investigation still in its early stages, more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.