February 16, 2025
NTSB Recovers Black Boxes from Washington D.C Crash Site

NTSB Recovers Black Boxes from Washington D.C Crash Site

NTSB investigators have now recovered the black boxes from American Airlines flight AA5342 from the Potomac River Washington D.C. crash site.
NTSB investigators recover black boxes from Potomac River Washington D.C. crash site.
Photo Credit: NTSB

Washington D.C. crash: Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have recovered the crucial “black boxes” – the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR) – from the wreckage of American Airlines flight AA5342.

The Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet crashed in the Potomac River after a devastating mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) earlier this week. The Washington D.C. crash has tragically become the deadliest aviation accident in the United States in the past 25 years.  

NTSB investigators retrieve wreckage from the Potomac River Washington D.C. crash site.

The crash, which occurred around 9.00pm local time today, Wednesday 29 January occurred as the CRJ700 regional jet was approaching to land on runway 33 Washington National Airport.

The collision resulted in the loss of all 64 persons aboard the CRJ700 and the 3 occupants of the US Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The impact occurred on final approach approximately 300 feet above ground level, bisecting the CRJ700 and causing both aircraft to plummet into the Potomac River below.

Recovery of FDR and CVR


The recovery of the “black boxes” – the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) – from the Washington D.C. crash site is a significant step in the NTSB’s investigation.

These recorders are designed to capture critical data leading up to an aviation incident. The CVR records conversations within the cockpit, potentially providing insights into the pilots’ actions, communications, and any warnings or alerts they received.

The FDR logs a wide range of flight parameters, including airspeed, altitude, heading, engine performance, and control inputs.

Analyzing this data will allow investigators to reconstruct the final moments of the flight. This will allow a better understanding of the sequence of events that led to the collision.  

The NTSB team has now transported the recovered recorders to their specialized laboratory for analysis. Technicians will carefully extract the data and begin the process of decoding and interpreting the information contained within. This process can be time-consuming, often taking weeks or even months to complete.

Ground Investigation & Recovery Continuing


Washington D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly updated media at a news conference on Sunday. He confirmed that authorities had now recovered the remains of 55 victims of the tragedy.

Divers still need to find the bodies of 12 remaining victims. The aircraft wreckage is due to be lifted from the Potomac as early as Monday morning.

In addition to analyzing the data from the recorders, NTSB investigators are also conducting a thorough on-scene investigation. The continue to examine the wreckage, interview witnesses, and review air traffic control records.

The entire aviation community, as well as the families and loved ones of the victims, anxiously await the NTSB’s findings.

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