Black Boxes Found in DC Plane Crash; Staffing Issues Investigated

• Black boxes from DC plane crash found; investigation ongoing.
• Staffing shortage at air traffic control raises concerns.
• 67 lives lost in collision between American Airlines flight and Army Black Hawk helicopter.

The black boxes from the tragic Washington DC plane crash, where a commercial flight collided with a military helicopter, have been found. Investigations continue into the cause of the incident, which claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard both aircraft. The discovery of the black boxes, including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, is expected to provide crucial insights into what went wrong during the fatal crash.

Officials are also looking into potential staffing issues in the region’s air traffic control operations. The area surrounding Washington DC is one of the most regulated airspaces in the world. However, it has emerged that only one air traffic controller was on duty during the crash, whereas typically two controllers are assigned to manage both helicopter and airplane traffic. This staffing shortage has raised questions, as sources close to the investigation cited by CBS News suggest that this situation is “not normal.” While the incident didn’t technically breach Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, it has sparked concern over ongoing staff shortages at the FAA.

The crash occurred late on Wednesday night when a PSA Airlines flight, operating as American Airlines 5342, collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The plane, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 64 passengers, including a pair of young figure skaters, their mothers, and two Russian coaches. The Black Hawk helicopter, on a training mission, had three soldiers on board. Both aircraft plummeted into the icy waters of the Potomac River, where recovery teams have since retrieved several bodies.

Divers spent hours searching the river on Thursday, but their efforts were suspended in the evening due to dangerous conditions. So far, 27 bodies have been recovered from the passenger plane, and one from the helicopter. The death toll has left the country in mourning, with the White House observing a moment of silence and President Donald Trump expressing condolences.

Trump, during a briefing, speculated that air traffic controller staffing issues might be linked to lower hiring standards under previous Democratic administrations, although no evidence has been presented to support this theory. In response to the tragedy, he signed a memorandum to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the aviation sector, alongside an executive order to appoint a new FAA head.

The incident occurred around 9:00 PM local time (02:00 GMT), as the PSA Airlines jet was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash resulted in the plane breaking into pieces before sinking several feet into the river, while the helicopter was found upside down in the water. Both the commercial flight and the military aircraft, a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk, are believed to have collided mid-air.

International attention has also turned to the crash, as Russian media reported that two Russian citizens were on board the flight. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed his condolences, saying, “It’s bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send our condolences to families and friends.”

This horrific loss has left both civilian and military communities grieving, with new US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describing it as a “horrible loss of life.” The investigation into the cause of the crash, which is expected to include an NTSB report within the next 30 days, continues.