Former MWAA Employee Released Unauthorized Copy To Media

A former employee of the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority who was charged with making an unauthorized copy of a video showing the collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342, and subsequently sharing it with CNN, has pleaded no contest to the charge.

Mohamed Mbengue, age 21 of Rockville, Maryland, entered the plea in Arlington County General Court on May 28. According to an agreement reached before trial with the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, after one year of good behavior, Mbengue’s charge will be dropped and he will be eligible to have it expunged from his record.

Mbengue and another man from Upper Marlboro, Maryland and also a former MWAA employee, were both charged with computer trespass after being arrested for making copies of the video which the MWAA had in its possession.

The charge against the second man was dropped and he was released on his own recognizance.

Attorney Dwight Crawley represented Mbengue in court, and he declined to comment after the plea was entered.

The collision at DCA, one of the nation’s busiest airports, has prompted several investigations including by Congress, the FAA and the NTSB. Several helicopter routes near the airport were eliminated, and several families of the 67 who perished have filed notices that they intend to sue the federal government. Those filings may proceed in June if no settlements have been reached.

FMI:  www.mwaa.com/