(14 Feb 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington DC – 14 February 2025
1. Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board arrive for press conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board Chair:
"We believe the helicopter was like the helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight. Given the nature of the flight, additionally, they had been removed….had they been removed. The crew was required to have a discussion about going unaided. Let me repeat that. Had they been removed, the crew was required to have a discussion about going under aided. There is no evidence on the cockpit voice recorder or CVR of such a discussion."
++BLACK++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board Chair:
"At 8:43:48. (local time) The Blackhawk was about 1.1 nautical miles west of the Key Bridge. The pilot flying indicated they were at 300ft. The instructor pilot indicated they were at 400ft. Neither pilot made a comment to discussing an altitude discrepancy. At this time, we don’t know why there was a discrepancy between the two. That’s something that the investigative team is analyzing."
++BLACK++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board Chair:
"At 8:46:01, a radio transmitter from the tower was audible on the CJ’s CVR, informing the Blackhawk that traffic just south of the Wilson Bridge was a crash at 1200 feet, circling to runway 3-3. CVR data from the Blackhawk indicated that the portion of the transmissions stating the crew was circling may not have been received by the Blackhawk crew. We hear the words circling in ATC communications, but we do not hear the words circling on the CVR of the Blackhawk. The recorders group is evaluating this right now."
++BLACK++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board Chair:
"At 8:47:42, or 17 seconds before impact, a radio transmission from the tower was audible on both Sievers directing the Blackhawk to pass behind the crew. CVR data from the Blackhawk indicate, and that the portion of the transmission that stated pass behind to the may not have been received by the Blackhawk crew. Transmission was stepped on by a point eight second Mike key from the Blackhawk. The Blackhawk was keying the mike to communicate with ATC. In response, at 8:47:44 the Blackhawk crew indicated that traffic was in sight and requested visual separation, which was approved by DCA tower. The instructor pilot then told the pilot, flying they believed ATC was asking for the helicopter to move left toward the east bank of the Potomac."
++BLACK++
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board Chair:
"Now we’re confident with the radio altitude, radio altitude of the Blackhawk. At the time of the collision that was 278ft. But I want to caution that does not mean what the Blackhawk that’s what the Blackhawk crew was seeing on the barometric altimeter in the cockpit. We are seeing conflicting information in the data, which is why we aren’t releasing altitude for the Blackhawk ‘s entire route."
++BLACK++
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board Chair:
8. Pull-out wide of Homendy walking away
STORYLINE:
The crew of the helicopter that collided midair with an American Airlines jet near Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport might not have heard instructions from the air traffic controller to pass behind the plane, investigators said Friday.
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