The tragic collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 involved a valiant effort by the pilots to save all aboard. The newly surfaced data highlights their courageous attempts at averting disaster.

The ill-fated jet carried 64 passengers, while the helicopter, involved in training for the president’s emergency evacuation route, was occupied by three soldiers. This route forms a crucial part of the government’s contingency planning.

During the accident, the plane was on its approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, beginning its landing procedure.

This tragic incident resulted in no survivors.

Recovery teams are still in the process of retrieving all the bodies involved in the accident.

The plane’s black box reveals that the pilots, 34-year-old Campos and his 28-year-old co-pilot Lilley, made desperate moves to regain control.

Todd Inman from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) clarified during a February 1 press conference that a slight increase in pitch was detected just seconds before the crash.

Although the data from the helicopter remains unavailable, Inman noted, “An impact obviously occurred, precisely when both aircrafts reached the same altitude.”

Conflicting altitude readings from the black box create a complex picture of the crash.

At the moment of collision over the Potomac River, the plane was recorded at an altitude of 325 feet, allowing for a 25-foot margin of error. Simultaneously, control tower data showed the Black Hawk helicopter flying at roughly 200 feet—the upper limit for safe helicopter operation in that region.

The hope is to resolve these altitude discrepancies once data from the helicopter’s black box can be examined. Although waterlogged, its retrieval holds potential for vital insights.