Trump says Blackhawk helicopter in Washington crash was flying too high
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The crash remains under investigation by federal transportation authorities.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on Jan 31 the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a regional passenger jet in Washington
US military helicopters regularly fly a route over the Potomac river near the busy Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, known as Route 4. For safety reasons, the altitude on those helicopter flights is capped at 61m.
“The Blackhawk helicopter was flying too high, by a lot. It was far above the 200 foot (61m) limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???” Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The crash, in which 67 people died, remains under investigation by the federal transportation authorities. An Army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, urged caution and patience as the investigation continues.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has acknowledged there may have been an elevation issue with the Black Hawk. But, speaking earlier on Jan 31, before Mr Trump’s remarks, he said it was still inconclusive.
“We’re looking at altitude, and the president was clear about that: someone was at the wrong altitude. The investigation will help us understand that. Was the Black Hawk too high, was it on course? Right now, we don’t quite know,” he told Fox News in an interview.
Mr Hegseth and the Army have said the three member crew of soldiers on the Black Hawk were experienced. The Army said the instructor pilot, who was the designated pilot in command, had 1,000 flying hours while the other pilot had 500 hours.
The third soldier was a crew chief, typically riding in the back of the helicopter.
The helicopter was from the 12th Aviation Battalion, which is based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. The unit is responsible for helicopter flights in the US capital area and regularly transports senior US government officials.
Mr Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said investigators have been told that the Black Hawk will have had a recorder on it. They were not sure if it was a combined data and voice recorder because it was a military craft, he said.
“But we are told that there is one on board. We have not retrieved it yet, but we feel comfortable knowing where it’s at,” Mr Inman said in an interview with CNN. REUTERS
