Two employees from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority have been arrested after leaking a shocking mid-air collision video.
Mid-Air Collision Sparks Investigation
The rare aviation accident has triggered widespread speculation across social media. Authorities are now working to determine how such a catastrophic incident could have occurred.
The collision happened Wednesday night as an American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers and four crew members was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport.
At the same time, a Black Hawk military helicopter was conducting a routine training exercise when it made contact with the passenger jet.
Helicopter Plunges Into Potomac River, Jet Lands Damaged
The impact sent the Black Hawk helicopter crashing into the Potomac River, while the damaged jet managed to land safely despite sustaining serious structural damage.
Dramatic footage of the accident quickly went viral on social media, fueling intense discussions and conspiracy theories.
Airport Employees Arrested for Leaking Crash Video
Authorities confirmed that two airport employees leaked the footage to CNN, leading to their arrests.
- Mohamed Lamine Mbengue, 21, of Rockville, Maryland, was arrested on January 31 but later released.
- Jonathan Savoy, 45, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was arrested a few days later for the same offense and released on a magistrate’s summons.
Both men face charges of computer trespass for allegedly making an unauthorized copy of the footage from the Airports Authority records, according to the Daily Mail.
Air Traffic Safety Concerns in Washington, D.C.
The mid-air crash has reignited concerns about air traffic safety in Washington, D.C., one of the busiest and most congested airspaces in the U.S.
Former House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio criticized lawmakers for prioritizing convenience over safety.
“Every senator, in particular, wants a nonstop flight to and from wherever they live,” DeFazio told Politico, highlighting ongoing concerns about overcrowding at Reagan National Airport.
NTSB Investigation Reveals Altitude Discrepancies
Investigators are working to understand how the collision occurred, particularly since weather conditions were clear with good visibility at the time.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released preliminary data showing altitude discrepancies between the two aircraft:
- The passenger jet’s flight recorder logged an altitude of 325 feet (±25 feet).
- Air traffic control data indicated the Black Hawk was flying at 200 feet.
If the collision happened at 325 feet, the helicopter would have been above the 200-foot altitude limit for helicopters in that area.
This raises serious questions about air traffic control oversight and potential violations of flight regulations.
What’s Next in the Investigation?
Authorities are conducting a full-scale investigation into the Reagan National Airport collision to determine if any protocol violations or air traffic control failures contributed to the crash.
The NTSB is expecting to release a more detailed final report in the coming weeks.
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