Salvage crews are continuing to search for additional pieces of wreckage in the Potomac River following a deadly collision between a passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter that left 67 people dead. Most of the debris has been recovered and will be analyzed as part of an investigation into the cause of the crash, which is the deadliest aviation disaster in over two decades.
The National Transportation Safety Board is still looking for some parts of the helicopter, including the right engine and tail rotor, with the help of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration using a green laser to scan for debris. The Federal Aviation Administration has limited flight arrivals at Reagan National Airport and barred helicopter routes near the airport.
New details have emerged about the crash, including the fact that the Black Hawk may have been flying above its 200-foot flight ceiling and had a key safety system turned off. The FAA is seeking to address staffing shortages in air traffic control by allowing controllers to work past their mandatory retirement age.
Amidst these developments, criticism has been directed at Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s involvement with tech billionaire Elon Musk, particularly regarding potential conflicts of interest between the FAA and Musk’s companies, SpaceX and Tesla. Sen. Maria Cantwell has urged for actions to remove any conflicts of interest between Musk and government regulatory matters.
