Editor's note: This page reflects the news on the recovery of the plane and helicopter crash in Washington from Sunday, Feb. The Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet near Washington, D. National Transportation Safety Board investigators have determined the CRJ airplane was at feet, plus or minus 25 feet, at the time of impact. The information was based on data recovered from the jet's flight data recorder that tracks the aircraft's movements, speed and other technical information.
Just before impact, the crew aboard the American flight had a "verbal reaction," according to the plane's cockpit voice recorder, and flight data shows the plane's nose began to rise, NTSB investigator Brice Banning said.
Yet the control tower's radar apparently showed the helicopter at feet at the time of the accident, though that information has not been confirmed, Banning said. DC plane crash updates: Crews to begin removing wreckage from Potomac River. All 64 people aboard the plane and all three aboard the helicopter perished. On Sunday, Washington D. Fire Chief John Donnelly said officials have positively identified 55 of the 67 people killed in the crash.
The Army Corps of Engineers is surveying and preparing to begin significant salvage operations on Monday to remove the wreckage from the river. Wreckage is being moved to a hangar at Washington Reagan National Airport. Much of the Potomac River remains off-limits to all vessels except authorized boat. Were they understaffed? Those are questions that we need answers to.
Duffy said investigators must also determine whether the the pilots were wearing night vision goggles, and if so did they affect pilot vision or perception.
