A disturbing new video has emerged, presenting an alternate perspective of the tragic midair collision involving an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. This incident resulted in the loss of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening.
The footage, acquired by CNN, vividly depicts the critical moment when the American Airlines flight, preparing to land, crosses paths with the Army helicopter. In mere seconds, the two aircraft collide, leading to a catastrophic explosion before both descend into the Potomac River.
Another video reveals the two aircraft approaching one another in what seems to be an alarmingly unavoidable course. Following the collision, the airliner spirals out of control before plunging into the water, while the Black Hawk helicopter similarly descends in a devastating manner.
As federal investigators work diligently to ascertain the cause of the crash, there is increasing speculation regarding the helicopter’s altitude at the moment of impact.
President Donald Trump commented on the incident early Friday morning via Truth Social, stating: “The Blackhawk helicopter was flying too high, by a lot. It was far above the 200-foot limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???”
Online debates have intensified, with certain individuals raising concerns about the appropriateness of the helicopter’s presence in the flight path of the incoming jet. One user on X expressed a strong opinion: “It is inconceivable that a military helicopter failed to notice the aircraft or lacked the capability to swiftly alter its course. This appears to be deliberate.”
Some individuals, however, countered the conspiracy theories, suggesting that the crash was probably due to miscommunication or pilot error.
“Considering that the CRJ was positioned roughly at the 9 o’clock angle relative to the helicopter, the helicopter did not execute any abrupt maneuvers,” stated another commentator. “It would be exceedingly challenging to intentionally intercept the aircraft.”
Law enforcement authorities have confirmed the recovery of no fewer than 40 bodies, and the black boxes from the aircraft have been successfully retrieved. During a briefing at the White House on Thursday morning, President Trump characterized the tragic collision as “a tragedy of terrible proportions.”
“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions as one nation. We grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” Trump stated to the press.
An internal report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that staffing levels at the air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport were “not normal” on the night of the incident. The controller on duty was reportedly managing tasks that are usually assigned to two individuals.
The sole controller was responsible for monitoring several aircraft in one of the busiest and most sensitive airspaces in the country. A preliminary internal safety report by the FAA, which was reviewed by The New York Times, highlighted that staffing at the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was unusually low considering the volume of traffic and the time of day.
