The NTSB revealed that pilots tried to raise the plane's nose in the final seconds before the fatal collision with a Black Hawk helicopter. Conflicting altitude readings are among the key puzzles investigators are trying to solve.
The pilots of the ill-fated American Airlines jet made a desperate attempt to save their passengers in the final moments before the fatal collision with an Army Black Hawk helicopter. Preliminary data from the plane's flight recorder revealed that Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 28, tried to raise the aircraft's nose in the seconds leading up to the Wednesday crash.
'At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch,' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman said during a press conference on Saturday night.The NTSB also disclosed that initial data showed conflicting altitude readings for the airliner and the helicopter. Data from the jet's flight recorder indicated its altitude as 325ft, with a margin of error of plus or minus 25ft, at the time of the crash, Inman told reporters. However, data from the control tower indicated the Black Hawk at 200ft. This discrepancy remains unexplained, but if the impact occurred at 325ft, the crash would have taken place well above the maximum permitted altitude of 200ft for helicopters in the area.Investigators currently lack the readout from the Black Hawk's flight recorder, preventing them from providing information about the helicopter's altitude during the incident. However, Inman stated that 'obviously, an impact occurred, and I would say when an impact occurs, that is typically where the altitude of both aircraft were at the moment.' First responders confirmed on Sunday that 55 out of the 67 victims of America's deadliest crash since 2001 have been identified. Authorities are also scheduled to conduct a 'lifting operation' on Monday to remove the wreckage from the river.Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, (left) and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 28, (right) tried to pull the American Airlines jet's nose up in the last few seconds before Wednesday's crash, preliminary data from the plane's flight recorder has revealed. Investigators hope to reconcile the difference in altitude readings with data from the helicopter's black box and plan to refine the tower data, which can be less reliable. 'This is a complex investigation,' stated investigator in charge Brice Banning. 'There are a lot of pieces here.' Banning revealed that the jet's cockpit voice recorder captured sound moments before the crash. 'The crew had a verbal reaction,' Banning said, and the flight data recorder showed 'the airplane beginning to increase its pitch. Sounds of impact were audible about one second later, followed by the end of the recording.' Full investigations typically take a year or more. Investigators aim to have a preliminary report within 30 days. Inman added that he has dedicated countless hours to meeting with victims' families. 'Some wanted to give us hugs. Some are just mad and angry,' Inman said. 'They are just all hurt. And they still want answers, and we want to give them answers.' Over 300 responders were involved in the recovery effort at any given time, officials stated. Two Navy barges were also deployed to lift the heavy wreckage
AIRPLANE CRASH NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER WASHINGTON DC VICTIMS INVESTIGATION
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