Quantcast

NTSB recovers key wreckage from deadly mid-air collision near DCA

Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Brazilian airline Azul to go 'back to basics' after challenging 2024
Airlines cancel flights as air travel to ‘grind to complete halt’ this week ahead of major strike action in Europe
Dramatic moment American Airlines plane diverted to Rome is escorted by fighter jets after mid-air bomb threat
Jetstar Faces Major Backlash as Nationwide System Outage Causes Travel Chaos, Stranding Passengers and Disrupting Flights Across the Australian Airline Industry
Sudden oil supply outages creating turbulence for airline industry
Southwest's layoffs dent its worker-first culture
Abu Dhabi's long-haul carrier Etihad Airways sees record $476 million profit in 2024
NTSB recovers key wreckage from deadly mid-air collision near DCA
Policy
Webp colganair
Colgan Air flight 3407 | Colgan Air

Over the weekend of February 8, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced a significant development in their investigation into the January 29 mid-air collision near Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport. All major pieces of wreckage from the crash have been recovered, marking an important milestone in the ongoing inquiry.

The NTSB stated, "...Investigators will be looking for witness marks on the aircraft that could provide clues to the angle of collision. Teams also recovered the CRJ’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and retrieved additional avionics from the Black Hawk."

On February 9, further updates were provided regarding efforts to search the Potomac River for more evidence. The NTSB noted, "...Additional larger pieces of wreckage identified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] TopoBathy lidar survey were recovered by the crane [from the Potomac River] and are being offloaded and brought to a secure location for documentation..."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Speculation has arisen on social media about where this "secure location" might be. Some internet users suggest it is likely a Signature FBO hangar at Reagan National Airport, based on photos shared by NTSB showing what appears to be a Signature FBO banner behind part of the American Eagle CRJ-700's wreckage.

The collision involved a PSA Airlines CRJ-700 operating as American Eagle and a US Army Blackhawk helicopter during final approach to runway 33 at Washington Reagan National Airport. This tragic incident resulted in fatalities for all 64 passengers aboard the American Eagle flight and three pilots on board the Blackhawk.

This event is notable as it disrupts nearly two decades of commercial aviation safety in the United States, with Colgan Air flight 3407 being the last major crash in February 2009. The NTSB plans to release a preliminary report into this mid-air collision by March 1 following initial investigations, while a final report is expected within one to two years.

In light of this tragedy, questions have emerged about potential causes. Concerns focus on why such an accident occurred in controlled airspace and how experienced military pilots collided with a passenger plane. Preliminary data suggests altitude discrepancies for the Blackhawk helicopter may have played a role.

Additionally, there are concerns regarding air traffic control operations at DCA during this time. Reports indicate that an air traffic controller was handling multiple jobs simultaneously.

Since President Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025, significant changes have occurred within government operations. Incentives offered by his administration aimed at encouraging government workers to leave their positions included those in aviation sectors but were repealed after this incident due to its impact on aviation staffing shortages nationwide.

Recent incidents involving near misses at various airports across America contribute further anxiety among travelers despite overall improvements in aviation safety trends globally.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Star Alliance has been named the World's Best Airline Alliance at the 2025 Skytrax Awards.

Jul 12, 2025

SAS and Air France have applied for a codeshare network covering ten U.S. destinations, including New York's JFK and Los Angeles' LAX.

Jul 12, 2025

Aviation analytics firm Cirium has released its June 2025 On-Time Performance (OTP) report, which analyzes global punctuality trends among airlines and airports.

Jul 12, 2025

United Airlines is set to resume flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport on July 21, 2025.

Jul 12, 2025

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport experienced significant growth in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic passenger numbers.

Jul 12, 2025

Emirates' fleet currently includes 253 widebody aircraft, with the addition of eight Airbus A350-900s.

Jul 12, 2025