DC plane crash updates: Remains of 55 victims recovered and positively identified
All 67 people on board the plane and the helicopter were killed.
An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, with no survivors.
Sixty-four people were on board the plane, which departed from Wichita, Kansas. Three soldiers were on the helicopter.
The collision happened around 9 p.m. when the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was on approach to the airport.
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Emotional NTSB investigator pleads for leaders to improve safety
NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman got emotional when asked about his interactions with the victims' families and others who have been directly impacted by the incident.
"They're all just hurt and they want answers and we want to give them answers," he said. "It's horrible. No one has to suffer this."
Inman held up a challenge coin that he had in his pocket with the inscription, "From tragedy we draw knowledge to improve the safety for us all."
"We need people to take action," he said noting hundreds of recommendations that his agency has made following several transportation-related incidents.
"Adopt the recommendation of the NTSB. You'll save lives. I don't want to meet with those parents again," Inman added.
Black Hawk was on a training mission, had night vision capabilities
NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman said that the Army copter was on a training mission and it would utilize night vision goggles.
"We do not know at this time if the night vision goggles were actively being worn," he said.
Air traffic controller alerted copter crew about plane 2 minutes before crash
The NTSB said that the air traffic controller alerted the helicopter crew about the American Airlines plane about two minutes before the crash, based on the data they have collected.
Black Hawk may have been flying higher than altitude ceiling limit: NTSB
NTSB investigator J. Todd Inman said the Black Hawk was flying at an altitude of 325 feet at the time of the collision, based on the preliminary data they have collected.
The tower cab data showed 200 feet near the time of the accident, according to Inman. There is a 200-foot ceiling for helicopters in that corridor above the Potomac River.
The investigator said more info needs to be collected to determine the discrepancy.