Washington plane crash: An air traffic controller was managing two separate tower positions during the tragic midair collision on Wednesday night, according to a source familiar with the air traffic control setup. The controller was responsible for both local and helicopter traffic, an unusual staffing arrangement that, while rare, can occur under certain circumstances.
An internal report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that staffing levels at the time were “not normal” for the traffic volume and time of day. The Reagan National control tower was operating at 85 percent of its usual capacity, with 24 out of 28 positions filled, as reported by The New York Times.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident, though it is too early to determine if the staffing situation contributed to the crash.
NTSB Investigates Emergency Evacuation Slides
As part of the investigation, the NTSB has confirmed that there were no signs of emergency evacuation slides being deployed on the commercial aircraft involved in the crash. Todd Inman, a member of the NTSB, explained that the recovery teams have not found any evidence suggesting that the slides or evacuation chutes were used. He characterized the crash as a “very quick, rapid impact.”
Inman also noted that the investigation is ongoing, and they will continue to verify the details as more information becomes available.
President Donald Trump’s Statement
In a statement following the incident, President Donald Trump confirmed that there were no survivors from the collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. He described the crash as the deadliest in the region since 2001. Trump also controversially attributed the tragedy to Democratic policies, though he did not provide any supporting evidence for his claims.
Recovery Efforts Underway
Authorities have shifted from rescue operations to a recovery effort as they continue to search for victims. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered. The commercial airplane, which had been flying from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 64 people, while the Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers onboard.
Among the victims on the plane were several members of the figure skating community, who had been returning from a developmental camp in Wichita. U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that some of the victims were affiliated with the sport. The Skating Club of Boston identified six of the victims, including Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the 1994 World Pairs Figure Skating Champions.