A devastating plane crash in Washington D.C. has left the nation reeling, with eyewitnesses describing a ‘white light falling out of the sky’ and air traffic controllers revealing the final moments leading up to the tragedy.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a tragic collision between an American Airlines commercial jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington D.C. on Wednesday evening. The incident resulted in the deaths of all 64 people on board, including passengers and crew members.
On January 17, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport bound for Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
However, shortly after departure, the plane encountered a flock of geese that were sucked into its engines, causing both to fail.
The pilot, Chesley Sullenberger, successfully landed the plane on the Hudson River in New York City.
All 155 people on board were rescued, with only minor injuries reported.
Jimmy Mazel, 17, and his girlfriend were eating dinner at Gravelly Point Park when they witnessed the collision. ‘It was like a white light falling out of the sky,’ he said. Nearby resident Roy Best described hearing a loud noise and seeing a bright light flare in the distance. First responders arrived to find wreckage submerged in the shallow water, with some plane passengers still strapped in their seats.
An air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport contacted the commercial jet and instructed it to take Runway 33. The pilot responded, ‘Yeah, we can do 33.‘ However, just moments later, a giant fireball erupted above the Potomac River, followed by an eerie trail of smoke and burning debris. The two aircraft plunged into the dark, frigid water.
The New York Times reported that the helicopter may have been flying outside its approved flight path, at a higher altitude than it was supposed to be, and at least half a mile off the approved route. An internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report also stated that staffing was ‘not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.‘
At least 41 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, with near-zero visibility in the water hampering the search effort. The plane’s fuselage will need to be removed so the remaining bodies can be retrieved.
The tragedy has cast a pall over the city and the nation. ‘It hurts me because those are my brothers, ‘ said Timothy Lilley, whose son was on board American Airlines Flight 5342. The investigation into the collision continues, with the NTSB working to determine the cause of the tragic event.
Victims' families often require emotional and financial support following a traumatic event.
Organizations such as 'Victim Support' provide counseling, advocacy, and practical assistance to help them cope with their loss.
According to a study by the National Center for Victims of Crime, 70% of victims' families report feeling isolated or disconnected from others in the aftermath of a crime.
Governments and communities can play a crucial role in providing support services and resources to these families.
8:43 p.m.: An air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport contacts the commercial jet and instructs it to take Runway 33.
8:48 p.m.: The two aircraft collide midair, resulting in a giant fireball and an eerie trail of smoke and burning debris.
9:00 p.m.: First responders arrive to find wreckage submerged in the shallow water, with some plane passengers still strapped in their seats.
CNN‘s Pete Muntean, Aaron Cooper, Andy Rose, Sara Smart, Aaron Eggleston, Dalia Faheid, Emma Tucker, Amanda Jackson, Robert Shackelford, Jamiel Lynch, Karina Tsui, Jillian Sykes, Alexandra Skores, Haley Britzky, Katie Bo Lillis, Michael Williams, David Williams, Holly Yan, Antoinette Radford, George Ramsay, Justin Lear, Taylor Galgano, Zenebou Sylla, and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.
