Why removing crashed aircraft takes time

Several key factors contribute to the methodical process of responding to and investigating an airline accident or crash:

A disorienting and complex setting

The first priority is rescue and recovery efforts for accident victims at the crash site by local first responders. Aircraft crashes often present disorienting conditions during initial hours.

For instance, the American Eagle CRJ700 collision with a Sikorsky UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 near Washington Reagan Airport resulted in a confined wreckage field in the Potomac River. Despite recovering the plane’s black boxes within one day, it took six days to recover all bodies from the American Eagle CRJ700 wreckage .

Investigation and science

Maintaining fidelity of the accident scene for subsequent investigation is crucially important. Securing all critical physical evidence at a crash site helps establish what events preceded the incident.

In May 1979,American Airlines Flight191 crashed on takeoff from O'Hare Airport in Chicago after its left engine detached from wing due to maintenance procedures leading to fatigue cracking.

The clock is ticking

There are two competing needs—diligence in establishing facts concerning cause(s) while providing timely answers.

"There should be no pressure," states Appendix MTI Manual,"to release all on-scene wreckage."

"And every time you try," said Jim Slade ABC-TV reporter,"to decide...you find out...you were wrong," referring Pan Am Disaster Dec'88

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