Crucial Black Box Found at Washington D.C. Crash Site as Investigation Intensifies

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Investigators have retrieved the cockpit voice recorder, commonly referred to as the black box, from the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the fatal mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, which resulted in the deaths of 67 people.

Emergency response teams are stepping up efforts to recover debris from the crash site, with the U.S. Navy set to begin major salvage operations on Saturday.

Officials report that large sections of the wreckage, including the submerged passenger aircraft, must be lifted from the Potomac River before divers can resume their recovery efforts.

To recap, the crash involved an American Airlines flight carrying 64 passengers and crew, and a Black Hawk helicopter with three U.S. Army soldiers on board.

So far, 28 victims have been identified, and 41 bodies have been recovered. Authorities believe that no additional remains will be found until the submerged aircraft is removed from the riverbed.

The black boxes from the passenger plane were recovered the day after the crash. Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are drying and analyzing the data, expecting to have crucial flight details soon.

Todd Inman, an NTSB member, noted that authorities are still unclear on the cause of the collision. Investigators are studying the debris patterns to determine how the aircraft reacted upon impact.

Audio recordings from air traffic control, which were shared online, show that a controller attempted to warn the helicopter pilot about the incoming American Airlines jet just seconds before the crash. The pilot acknowledged the warning but was unable to prevent the collision.

In response to concerns over airspace congestion, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has placed restrictions on helicopter traffic near Reagan National Airport. Investigators are also examining air traffic control staffing to determine if one controller was managing both the airplane and helicopter movements at the time of the crash.

More than 500 personnel have been working continuously at the crash site, according to Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly.

While the White House has been monitoring the situation, officials have not commented directly on the cause of the crash.

President Donald Trump has speculated, without evidence, that the Black Hawk helicopter was “flying too high” and suggested the accident may be linked to FAA hiring practices.

Inman dismissed this speculation, stating that the investigation remains focused on uncovering the facts and preventing future incidents.

“Our job is to find the facts,” he said, adding, “More importantly, our job is to ensure that this tragedy doesn’t happen again—regardless of what anyone may be saying.”

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