The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States indicated that the air accident that claimed the lives of 67 people last January in Washington may have been caused by incorrect data regarding the helicopter's altitude. The tragic event occurred when a regional plane with 64 passengers and a military helicopter with three occupants collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport in the capital.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy revealed that the possibility of errors in the data is being investigated, and there is no evidence that the helicopter crew saw the plane before the tragedy. Visibility checks are being conducted to clarify this point, but it was emphasized that much work remains to be done.
Homendy also suggested that the helicopter crew may not have heard the instructions issued from the control tower before the collision. According to her, the control tower asked the crew about the plane's position and issued maneuver orders to avoid the impact, but despite these details, she urged not to speculate on the possible causes.
The NTSB Chairwoman mentioned that it is being assessed whether the helicopter pilots misinterpreted the altitude at which they were flying, which could have been a contributing factor to the accident. It was also revealed that the crew was wearing night vision goggles during the flight, a detail that will be relevant in the upcoming stages of the investigation.
In summary, the NTSB continues to work on clarifying the circumstances surrounding the tragic air accident in Washington, without making preliminary conclusions and reminding that safety in aviation is a constant priority.
