‘Heartbreaking’ search for victims of DC air crash as Army helicopter's black box is recovered.
- NewsBlend360
- Feb 3
- 4 min read
By NEW BLEND 360
Updated 7:40 PM EST, January 31, 2025
ARLINGTON, VA (NB360) – Search and recovery efforts continued Friday along the banks of the Potomac River as police boats combed the shoreline in the rain, looking for clues in the midair collision that claimed 67 lives and sparked concerns about air traffic safety near the nation’s capital.
Investigators confirmed they have recovered the black box from the Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash with a commercial jetliner. The flight data recorder, along with two previously retrieved from the jet, is now under analysis.
No one survived the Wednesday night collision. As of Friday afternoon, recovery teams had pulled 41 bodies from the river, 28 of which have been positively identified, according to Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr. He reported that next-of-kin notifications had been made to 18 families and expressed confidence that all remains would be recovered.
The fuselage of the plane will likely need to be lifted from the river to retrieve additional victims, Donnelly noted.
“This is heartbreaking work,” he said, acknowledging that more than 300 responders, including divers and U.S. Coast Guard teams, were involved in the recovery efforts. “It’s been a tough response for a lot of our people.”
Authorities could not estimate how long the operation would take.
“We’re working as fast as we can,” Donnelly said. “We need your patience.”
Disruptions and Investigations Begin
The American Airlines jet carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the Black Hawk had three soldiers aboard.
Though Ronald Reagan National Airport has reopened, two of its three runways remain closed to prevent aircraft from flying over the crash site, said airport vice president Terry Liercke. The incident has caused the cancellation of about 100 flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also imposed strict helicopter flight restrictions in the area. These restrictions followed a social media post by former President Donald Trump, who claimed the Army helicopter was flying higher than permitted.
Flight Data and Crash Analysis
Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the American Airlines jetliner, which collided with the helicopter while approaching Reagan National for landing.
According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman, the flight data recorder was in good condition and is expected to be analyzed soon. However, water entered the cockpit voice recorder, making the investigation more complex.
The Black Hawk’s flight recorder, which stores all critical flight data in a single black box, was sent to NTSB headquarters and appears to be undamaged, Inman added.
Authorities are investigating the military pilot’s actions and air traffic control’s role in the crash, as the helicopter reportedly flew into the jet’s path. While full NTSB investigations typically take a year or more, a preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
Routine Military Flights and Altitude Concerns
Military aircraft frequently operate in and around Washington, D.C., practicing emergency routes to evacuate government officials in the event of a national crisis.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that investigators are examining whether altitude restrictions and the use of night vision goggles played a role in the crash. The Army confirmed that the Black Hawk’s altitude limit at the time was 200 feet but has not yet determined if that limit was exceeded.
On Friday, the Army identified two of the fallen soldiers:
Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the crew chief.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, one of the helicopter’s pilots.
The identity of the third soldier has not been disclosed at the family’s request.
New FAA Flight Restrictions and Debris Recovery
In response to the crash, the FAA has restricted helicopter flights over a six-mile stretch of the Potomac and surrounding areas, including the airport. Exemptions include emergency medical, law enforcement, air defense, and presidential flights. These restrictions will remain in place until the NTSB releases its preliminary findings.
Meanwhile, debris from the crash has drifted miles downstream. Dean Naujoks, a Potomac Riverkeeper Alliance patroller, discovered floating wreckage along the Maryland shore, including pages from a flight manual, part of the plane’s cabin wall, a woman’s sweater, and American Airlines-branded sugar packets.
“Everything is covered in jet fuel,” Naujoks said. “The sugar packets made me think of the flight attendants. I’m thinking of the people these things belonged to, and it’s a punch to the gut. It’s just a sad day on the river.”
Air Traffic Control Staffing Scrutinized
An FAA report obtained by the Associated Press indicates that a single air traffic controller was overseeing both helicopter and aircraft traffic at the time of the crash. Typically, these responsibilities are split between two controllers, but the airport consolidates them at 9:30 p.m. when traffic slows. On Wednesday night, however, the supervisor combined these duties earlier than usual—a move the report described as “not normal.”
A source familiar with airport procedures, speaking anonymously, disputed this claim, stating that combining duties for short periods is standard practice to accommodate breaks, shift changes, or reduced traffic.
NTSB investigators have begun interviewing air traffic controllers on duty that night.
“Air traffic control interviews are critical,” Inman said. “That’s why there’s a process in place that began immediately after the accident.”
Beyond the crash itself, the FAA’s longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers is also under scrutiny.
Aviation Safety Concerns Grow
Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, stated that the Black Hawk’s crew was highly experienced and well-acquainted with the congested airspace over Washington, D.C.
The crash—the deadliest in the U.S. since a 2001 plane crash in Queens, New York—has reignited concerns over air traffic safety in high-traffic areas.
Former President Trump, who previously questioned the helicopter pilot’s actions, reiterated his claims on social media Friday, stating:
“It was far above the 200-foot limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???”
Aviation experts emphasize that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation, but the dense airspace around Reagan National Airport presents challenges even for the most seasoned pilots.
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