Family members broke down in tears as they learned more about the tragedy during a congressional hearing on Thursday
THE pilots aboard the Black Hawk that collided with an American Airlines flight in January had a brief conversation seconds before the crash that appeared to suggest they were about to turn out of the plane’s path.
More disturbing details are coming to light about the crash that left all 67 people involved dead in Washington DC as the National Transportation Safety Board probes the tragedy.
The NTSB is conducting three days of hearings to try to determine what caused the collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport on January 29.
On Thursday, transportation officials released a transcript of everything that was said in the Black Hawk cockpit in the moments leading up to the crash.
In one fateful moment, the pilots discussed turning east toward the Washington DC bank ot the Potomac River, which could have avoided the tragedy entirely.
A voice recording was recovered from the helicopter that captured pilot instructor Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, speaking with his copilot, trainee Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, The New York Times reported.
At one point, he said, “All right, kinda come left for me ma’am, I think that’s why he’s asking,” referring to the air traffic controller’s guidance.
“Sure,” replied Lobach, who was at the Black Hawk’s controls.
Eaves then said, “We’re kinda —” before abruptly stopping as Lobach said, “OK. Fine.”
“Out towards the middle,” Eaves finished.
Two seconds later, they crashed into the plane.
The disturbing transcript comes as the NTSB showed a new video from the end of the runway that captured the crash.
Before they played the video, the investigators paused and told family members they could leave the room or look away.
After viewing the haunting footage, some people in the audience broke down into heaving sobs as they clutched pictures of their gone-too-soon loved ones.
SECOND BY SECOND TIMELINE
About 15 seconds before the crash, the air traffic controller asked the Black Hawk if it could see the passenger plane, according to audio transcripts.
Three seconds after this, the controller told the helicopter to pass behind the American Airlines flight.
But while the controller said this, a Black Hawk crew member pressed their microphone and the message never came through.
The NTSB is investigating how the Army crew’s actions were able to completely stop transmissions.
The helicopter was piloted by trainee Captain Rebecca Lobach, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, and Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara.
Choppers flying in that zone are only cleared to ascend to an altitude of 200 feet, but for some reason, the Black Hawk was hovering well above that.
Transportation officials testified Wednesday that the pilots may have been getting inaccurate readings because of an altimeter error.
During the rest of the 15-flight, the Army soldiers made small talk and laughed amongst themselves while Eaves guided.
At one point, Lobach described the radio transmissions from air traffic control as “pretty muffled.”
Nearly two and a half minutes before the crash, Eaves told his trainee to “come down for me” as they were flying at 300 feet instead of the approved 200.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/14886623/washington-dc-plane-crash-black-hawk-pilot-conversation/
