Data records show that Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley raced at 140 mph towards the military helicopter in a desperate attempt to save every person on board.
On Wednesday, January 29, at 8:47 p.m. ET, a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three US soldiers on a training excursion was struck by a PSA Airlines aircraft, which is owned by American Airlines.
When the mid-air collision occurred, Flight 5342 was on its way to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, transporting 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC.
The debris of both the plane and the helicopter fell in the Potomac River, making it the deadliest plane accident in the United States since 2001 and the country’s first significant aviation event in the past 16 years. Despite the efforts of 300 first responders to render aid, no survivors were found.
In the closing seconds before the crash, 34-year-old pilot Campos and his 28-year-old co-pilot Lilley tried to lift the plane up, according to data from the aircraft’s black box.
“At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch,” National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) official Todd Inman stated during a press conference on Saturday, February 1.
Additionally, according to the safety board, the control tower’s recording of the plane’s height at the time of the crash did not match the preliminary data from the aircraft’s flight recorder (via CNN).
At the moment of contact, the flight recorder reported the helicopter’s altitude at about 325 feet, whereas the control tower recorded it at 200 feet.
Although investigations are still underway, if the crash did occur at 325 feet, it would have indicated that the helicopter had risen above the 200-foot maximum altitude at which helicopters are permitted to fly in the region.
“Obviously an impact occurred, and I would say when an impact occurs, that is typically where the altitude of both aircraft were at the moment,” Iman continued, adding that they do not have the data from the helicopter.
Campos spoke with his uncle on the phone before the collision.
His uncle John Lane told the MailOnline that he talked to his nephew “for 10 minutes” when he was getting on the plane and that he “sounded really happy.”
He said: “I can’t believe it. He sounded really happy. He was looking forward to going on a cruise next week on the Icon of the Seas, the cruise ship.”
“Ten family members were going to fly to Florida to take the trip with him. It was going to be a big celebration.”
American Airlines released the following statement regarding the incident:
“American Eagle Flight 5342 en-route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700.”
“There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft. Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”
