Flight data retrieved from the night a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane collided mid-air has revealed key information about the moment the tragedy took place.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing after the two aircraft collided on January 29, when the American Airlines regional jet was on approach to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC.

Before the plane made it to the runway, it collided with a US Army Black Hawk and both aircraft went plunging into the nearby Potomac River, resulting in the deaths of everybody on board.

There were no survivors of the plane crash (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Responders have now recovered all 67 bodies from the river, including 64 people from the plane and three people who were on the helicopter. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been sharing regular updates on its investigation, the most recent of which came after it obtained flight tracking data from the night of the crash.

In a press release on February 4, the NTSB said the data showed the Black Hawk was at 300 feet on the air traffic control display at the time of the collision, according to figures rounded to the nearest 100 feet.

The height of the Black Hawk is noteworthy because helicopters flying in the National Capital Region have a 200-foot ceiling, indicating the Black Hawk had exceeded this limit. However, the NTSB has noted that because the data is rounded to the nearest 100, the helicopter could have been flying anywhere between 251 feet and 349 feet at the time of the crash.

The helicopter was flying above the 200-foot limit ( Al Drago/Getty Images)

The board needs additional information from the Black Hawk to verify data points, but this can only be obtained when the helicopter is recovered from the water; a task set to take place later this week.

Sections of the American Airlines flight that have so far been recovered include the right wing, center fuselage, part of the left wing and left fuselage, as well as ‘significant portions of the forward cabin and cockpit’.

The news from the NTSB comes just days after the board revealed a last-minute manoeuvre had been made by the American Airlines pilots prior to the crash.

Todd Inman, an official of the NTSB, said at a press conference on February 1: “At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch.”

As the investigation continues, both maintenance records for the Black Hawk and cockpit voice records for both aircraft are being reviewed.

‘All major pieces’ of the American Airlines plane and Black Hawk helicopter have been recovered for ‘further examination’, it has been confirmed.

On January 29 at 8.47pm ET, an American Airlines passenger plane – flight 5342 – and a US military helicopter collided mid-air over the Potomac River, close to the Ronald Reagan National airport in Washington D.C.

The passenger plane was carrying 64 passengers and crew and had traveled from Wichita, Kansas, while the army helicopter – a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk carrying three crew – had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia. All 67 were killed in the accident.

An update as of February 8 on the National Transportation Safety Board’s website reads: “​​​All major pieces the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) RJ Aviation (Bombardier) CRJ700 and the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in the Jan. 29 mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport have now been recovered to a secure airport facility for further examination and documentation.

“Investigators will be looking for witness marks on the aircraft that could provide clues to the angle of collision. Teams also recovered the CRJ’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and retrieved additional avionics from the Black Hawk.”

It also states a ‘National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration TopoBathy lidar survey from a manned NOAA aircraft was conducted this morning and identified multiple underwater targets that could be additional aircraft debris’ and the targets were investigated by divers who ‘will continue that work this week’.

‘All major pieces’ of the American Airlines and helicopter crash have been recovered (Twitter/@NTSB_Newsroom)

The American Airlines Flight 5342 recorder showed a difference in reported altitude readings between the plane and helicopter upon collision.

According to the NTSB, data recovered from the flight recorder inside the plane claimed it was cruising at about 325 feet, with a 25 foot margin of error on either side, despite air traffic control tower data suggesting the military helicopter was flying at an altitude of about 200 feet when it collided with the commercial plane.

The approximate 100 foot discrepancy remains unaccounted for.

The wreckage is being investigated (Twitter/@NTSB_Newsroom)

On Thursday, the helicopter’s black box was extracted from the Potomac River and The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later confirmed both aircrafts’ black boxes had been recovered ‘in good condition’.

It’s hoped the flight data from the Black Hawk’s black box may provide answers to the conflicting altitude recordings and a preliminary report of the crash is expected to be issued within 30 days, the NTSB states.

Authorities have concluded search and recovery efforts after an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter.

Last week (January 29), American Airlines Flight 5432 crashed into an Army Black Hawk midair as it approached to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia.

Both aircrafts plunged into the Potomac River in Washington, DC, resulting in the deaths of everyone on board.

Officials have now confirmed the bodies of all 67 victims have now been recovered, including the 60 passengers and four crew members flying on the commercial jet and the three bodies from the military helicopter. Of the 67 victims, all but one have been identified.

According to Fox5, the chief medical examiner’s office is still working on identifying the final victim.

In a statement, the authorities called the recovery a ‘significant step’, adding: “Our hearts are with the victims’ families as they navigate this tragic loss.

“We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time.”

28 of those onboard the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, were young Olympic hopefuls attending a figure skating competition, according to U.S Figure Skating.

“They were incredible athletes, caring and supportive family members, and coaches who worked tirelessly for their athletes,” U.S Figure Skating interim CEO Samuel Auxier shared in a statement.

“They were beloved members of our global skating community, and we mourn their loss together.”

Experts are still working on salvaging the aircraft wreckage (Al Drago/Getty Images)

As a salvage team continues to lift debris from the Potomac River, the emergency is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

On Wednesday (February 4) the NTSB Newsroom’s official X account confirmed there would be no more ‘scene media briefings’ regarding the collision.

“NTSB needs additional information to verify data points from the Black Hawk. In order to obtain this information, the Black Hawk needs to be recovered from the water, which is expected to take place later this week,” a statement read.

“Any future media briefings will take place at NTSB headquarters.”

In a press release issued on the same day, the NTSB said the Black Hawk was at around 300 feet on the air traffic control display at the time of the collision.

This is significant because helicopters flying in the National Capital Region have a 200-foot ceiling, meaning it would have exceeded its limit.

However, as data is rounded to the nearest 100 feet, NTSB has confirmed the aircraft could have been flying between 251 feet and 349 feet at the time of the crash.

Meanwhile, NBC reports the passenger jet’s last known altitude was logged at about 375 feet.

There were 64 passengers and crew members traveling on the American Airlines jet (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Speaking about the ongoing investigation and its complexity, Todd Inman, the lead NTSB investigator on the case, said: “There are a lot of pieces here. Our team is working hard to gather this data.”

Meanwhile, former director of the FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation Steven Wallace told CNN he believes the cause of the disaster will present itself shortly.

“We have radar data, we have eyewitnesses, and we have all the wreckage,” he explained. “There’s nothing missing.”

CNN writes that a preliminary report from the NTSB regarding the January 29 collision is likely to be published in a month.

Disturbing footage released by President Zelensky shows a Russian drone hitting a Chernobyl power plant that ‘protects the world from radiation’.

February 24, 2025, marks three years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, which has caused thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian deaths.

While Vice President JD Vance meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich on Friday (February 14) with the hope of peace talks, Russia continues to attack their neighboring country.

President Zelensky will meet with JD Vance on Friday (Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

President Zelensky took to Twitter before meeting world leaders to confirm a Russian drone hit the destroyed nuclear power plant at Chernobyl on Thursday (February 13) evening.

Footage of the incident was also posted by the president, which showed a bright light pulse followed by smoke bellowing from a large structure.

“Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

“This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, together with America – all those committed to real security for humanity.

“The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia. This is a terrorist threat to the entire world.”

The president went on to state the shelter was ‘damaged’ by the drone, while a subsequent fire has been put out.

Zelensky confirmed radiation levels have not increased as a result of the attack, though authorities are continuing to manage things.

“Every night, Russia carries out such attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities,” Zelensky added on Twitter.

“Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric. This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world.

“That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions.”

In a statement posted on Twitter, the International Atomic Energy Agency said: “During the night of 13-14 Feb, at around 01:50, IAEA team at the Chornobyl site heard an explosion coming from the New Safe Confinement, which protects the remains of reactor 4 of the former Chornobyl NPP, causing a fire. They were informed that a UAV had struck the NSC roof.

“Fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes. At this moment, there is no indication of a breach in the NSC’s inner containment. Radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable. No casualties reported. IAEA continues monitoring the situation.”