In a developing story surrounding the tragic collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, new preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reveals that one air traffic controller was managing two positions when the incident occurred.
The official cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
According to the Associated Press, the configuration of air traffic control at Reagan National Airport was not typical for the time of day or the high volume of traffic. One air traffic controller, located at the airport’s control tower, was performing tasks that are normally assigned to two separate individuals.
The collision took place on Wednesday night, Jan. 29, just before 9 p.m. EST, when American Airlines Flight 5342 was nearing its landing at Reagan National from Kansas. Tragically, the aircraft was carrying 64 passengers, all of whom perished, along with the three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter.
No Survivors Expected in Deadly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Crash
As recovery efforts continue, authorities have confirmed that at least 28 bodies have been recovered from the icy waters of the Potomac River, where the wreckage of both aircraft was found.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) working to determine the full extent of the circumstances leading to the collision.
