NTSB to Lead Investigation – Was the Air Traffic Controller Doing the Work of Two People?

The two black boxes of the passenger plane that crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter over Washington on Wednesday night were recovered on Thursday. Investigators are now working to determine the causes of the devastating accident.

The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the Bombardier CRJ700, which was carrying 64 passengers, were found and retrieved from the icy waters of the Potomac. The aircraft collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which had a three-person crew onboard.

With a death toll of 67, this is the worst aviation disaster in the U.S. since November 2001, when a commercial flight crashed shortly after takeoff from New York City.

After hours of unsuccessful search efforts for survivors, emergency response teams have shifted their focus to recovering victims’ bodies from the Potomac River, near Ronald Reagan Airport. As of Thursday morning, 28 bodies had been recovered, according to the fire department, while U.S. media later reported that the number had risen to 40.

Investigation and Black Box Analysis

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken over the investigation, aiming to determine the exact cause of the crash—the deadliest in the U.S. in over two decades. NTSB officials stated that at this stage, there is insufficient evidence to identify or rule out any contributing factors. A preliminary report is expected to be released within 30 days.

Trump’s Response and Political Angle

Former President Donald Trump has blamed the crash on “poor decisions”, suggesting that Biden administration’s inclusion policies played a role in staffing shortages in aviation safety. Rather than focusing solely on the pilot error or the control tower’s understaffing, Trump redirected the narrative toward policies he opposes.

Known for his media-savvy tactics, Trump used the accident to criticize diversity and inclusion initiatives, claiming they compromise safety—without providing any supporting evidence. When questioned by journalists, he dismissed inquiries with sarcastic remarks, such as “I expected a smarter question from you”, effectively shutting down further debate.

Key Issues Investigators Are Examining

International media and analysts are focusing on two critical factors that may have contributed to the tragedy:

1. The control tower was understaffed, potentially overloading the air traffic controller on duty.
2. The military helicopter may have been flying at an altitude higher than its approved flight path.

Understaffed Air Traffic Control Tower

According to a New York Times report, the control tower at Ronald Reagan International Airport was severely understaffed at the time of the crash. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report revealed that the number of controllers at the tower was not adequate for the volume of air traffic at that hour.

The air traffic controller responsible for managing helicopter flights was also simultaneously handling airplane departures and landings—a task usually assigned to two separate controllers.

This increased workload created communication challenges, as controllers use different radio frequencies to interact with helicopter and airplane pilots. Consequently, the two pilots involved in the crash may not have been able to hear each other’s communications.

The New York Times also highlighted that the Ronald Reagan Airport control tower has been understaffed for years. A 2023 FAA workforce report to Congress indicated that the airport employed only 19 certified air traffic controllers, while both the FAA and aviation unions recommended a minimum of 30 controllers.

Due to this staffing shortage, many controllers were forced to work up to 10-hour shifts with only one day off per week.

Military Helicopter’s Flight Path Deviation

According to New York Times sources, the military helicopter involved in the crash was flying at a higher altitude than approved and was outside its designated flight path at the time of the accident.

Four anonymous sources familiar with the investigation told the New York Times that the Black Hawk helicopter was supposed to fly at a lower altitude and in a different location while passing through the high-traffic airspace near Reagan Airport.

The helicopter was conducting a training exercise as part of a “continuity of government” operation—a routine but highly sensitive mission designed to evacuate key political figures from Washington in the event of a major disaster or nuclear attack.

Final Moments Before Impact

An audio recording of air traffic control communications captures controllers repeatedly asking the Black Hawk pilot whether he had visual contact with the American Airlines aircraft and instructing him to “pass behind” the plane.

Moments later, a controller’s desperate voice can be heard:

“I just saw a fireball, and then it disappeared.”

This was the last communication before contact with the helicopter was lost.