Featured Image Credit: Epic Flight Academy/Family Handout
Topics: American Airlines, US News, Washington
Joe Yates
Topics: American Airlines, US News, Washington
As Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley hurtled 140mph towards the military helicopter, they made a last ditch attempt to save everyone onboard, data records show.
At 8.47pm ET on Wednesday (January 29), a PSA Airlines aircraft, which is owned by American Airlines, crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter that was carrying three US soldiers taking part in a training expedition.
The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington DC, when the mid-air collision took place as Flight 5342 approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to land.
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It was the deadliest plane crash in the US since 2001, and the nation's first major aviation incident in the last 16 years, as the wreckage of both the chopper and the plane landed in the Potomac River, with 300 first responders rushing to provide aid - but sadly there were no survivors.
Now, data from the plane's black box has recorded how the 34-year-old pilot Campos, and his 28-year-old co-pilot Lilley, had attempted to pull the plane up in the final few seconds before collision.
"At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch," Todd Inman, an official of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said at a press conference on Saturday (February 1).
The safety board also stated that preliminary data from the aircraft's flight recorder differed from that of the control tower in its recording of the plane's altitude at the time of collision (via CNN).
Data from the flight recorder had its altitude at around 325ft at the time of impact, while the control tower recorded the helicopter at 200ft.
While investigations are still ongoing, if the crash did take place at 325ft, it would have meant that the chopper had exceeded the maximum altitude helicopters are allowed to fly at in the area - which is 200ft.
Iman added that they don't have the data from the helicopter, but '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'.
Prior to the crash, Campos had a phone conversation with his uncle.
In an interview with the MailOnline, his uncle John Lane explained he spoke to his nephew 'for 10 minutes' as he was boarding the plane and he 'sounded really happy'.
He said: "I can't believe it. He sounded really happy. He was looking forward to going on a cruise next week on the Icon of the Seas, the cruise ship.
"Ten family members were going to fly to Florida to take the trip with him. It was going to be a big celebration."
American Airlines issued a statement on the incident which reads: "American Eagle Flight 5342 en-route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700.
"There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft. Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.
"If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].