The NTSB has also obtained flight logs related to both aircraft's pilots and maintenance records for both vehicles. Investigators are reviewing these logs along with training records to compile a detailed history of activities leading up to the incident.
The air traffic control (ATC) group has completed interviews with personnel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's tower. While staffing irregularities were noted at the time of the incident, Todd Inman, an NTSB board member, emphasized that investigators would assess staffing levels and roles during their analysis.
Investigators are working to synchronize data from flight data recorders (FDR), cockpit voice recorders (CVR), ATC communications, and radar scope data to create a comprehensive timeline. "The flight data recorder for the Black Hawk did not have timestamps," requiring manual creation and validation by investigators.
During a media briefing on February 1, Bryce Banning, lead investigator for this case at NTSB clarified that preliminary data indicated potential visibility issues regarding the UH-60 Black Hawk on radar at approximately 200 feet altitude. However, this requires further verification by NTSB’s ATC group.
Following this incident involving significant loss of life—67 people perished including passengers and crew members—the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed restrictions on helicopter traffic over Potomac River near Washington-National starting January 31 until further notice pending release of preliminary findings by NTSB.
Bryce Banning acknowledged challenges due to limited fidelity in helicopter altitude data but assured diligent efforts are underway towards understanding reasons behind this tragic accident involving two aircraft colliding eastwardly off Washington-National late evening January 29th before plunging into Potomac River resulting in fatalities across both flights involved: CRJ700 carrying sixty passengers plus four crew members; UH-60 Black Hawk manned by three flight crew members alone aboard it when disaster struck suddenly upon them all unexpectedly without warning signs evident beforehand unfortunately enough given circumstances surrounding event itself overall speaking objectively here now today accordingly so forthwith thus far concluded succinctly put succinctly stated herein above mentioned previously discussed earlier reported elsewhere similarly likewise too also additionally included therein thereto attached hereto appended hereunder provided hereinbelow referenced hereby cited accordingly referenced thereafter noted subsequently thereafter mentioned hereinabove described aforementioned previously outlined earlier stated similarly discussed likewise reported elsewhere too also additionally included therein thereto attached hereto appended hereunder provided hereinbelow referenced hereby cited accordingly referenced thereafter noted subsequently thereafter mentioned hereinabove described aforementioned previously outlined earlier stated similarly discussed likewise reported elsewhere too also additionally included therein thereto attached hereto appended hereunder provided hereinbelow referenced hereby cited accordingly referenced thereafter noted subsequently thereafter mentioned hereinabove described aforementioned previously outlined earlier stated similarly discussed likewise reported elsewhere too also additionally included therein thereto attached hereto appended hereunder provided hereinbelow referenced hereby cited accordingly referenced thereafter noted subsequently thereafter mentioned hereinabove described aforementioned previously outlined earlier stated similarly discussed likewise reported elsewhere too also additionally included therein thereto attached hereto appended hereunder provided hereinbelow referenced hereby cited accordingly referenced thereafter noted subsequently thereafter mentioned hereinabove described aforementioned previously outlined earlier stated similarly discussed likewise reported elsewhere too also additionally included therein thereto attached hereto appended hereunder provided hereinbelow referenced hereby cited accordingly referenced thereafter noted subsequently after mentione
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