Fifty-Five Victims ID’d, Wreckage Recovery Begins

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with officials in the agencies overseeing the search and recovery operations in the Potomac River where the American Eagle CRJ Flight 5342 collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter provided updates on February 1 and 2, 2025.

Washington, DC, fire chief John Donnelly confirmed that 55 of the 67 victims have been recovered and positively identified.

The recovery of the wreckage of the two aircraft was to begin on February 3, is planned to focus initially on the Bombardier CRJ 700 passenger jet operated by PSA Airlines as an American Eagle flight before shifting to the Black Hawk helicopter. It is anticipated that all debris will be cleared by February 12, 2025.

The NTSB, meanwhile, said that the CRJ’s flight date recorder (FDR) yielded data indicating that the jet was at 325+/-25 feet above the water based on ADS-B and FDR data. At the same time, the altitude displayed on the air traffic control radar scope showed it was at 200 feet. However, the radar data has lower fidelity and the NTSB is working to further verify the accuracy of the altitude indications from the FDR, which has now been fully downloaded.

The cockpit voice recorder from the jet contains details of the sequence leading up to the collision. The jet’s autopilot was not engaged, and the 1000-foot and 500-foot callouts could be heard. ATC was heard asking PAT25 (the Black Hawk) if they had the CRJ in sight.

There was a “TRAFFIC TRAFFIC” aural alert in the jet's cockpit followed by DCA tower instructing PAT25 to pass behind the CRJ. The crew reacted verbally as the aircraft increased its pitch followed by sounds of the impact.

The NTSB said the Black Hawk’s recorder apparently had water intrusion and the agency is drying the recording before attempting to retrieve the data.

One NTSB board member said, “We do not know at this time if the night-vision goggles were actually being worn, nor what the setting may be. Further investigation should be able to let us know if that occurred and what factor it may play in the overall accident.”

In the DCA tower at the time of the collision were one local controller handling both fixed-wing and helicopter traffic, one ground controller, one local assistant controller, one supervisor, and one supervisor in training.

FMI:  www.ntsb.gov/