New data reveals that the pilots of American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a US Army Black Hawk on January 29, made a desperate attempt to prevent the crash.

The jet, carrying 64 passengers, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it struck the helicopter, which had three soldiers retraining the president’s emergency evacuation route. Tragically, there were no survivors, and rescue teams have yet to recover all bodies.

Final Moments & Altitude Confusion

Black box data shows pilots Campos (34) and Lilley (28) tried to pull the plane up just before impact. Conflicting altitude readings raise further questions:
🔹 The plane was at 325 feet over the Potomac River, with a 25ft margin of error.
🔹 The Black Hawk was at 200 feet, the maximum safe altitude for helicopters in that area.

The helicopter’s black box, retrieved but waterlogged, may help clarify these discrepancies. Investigators continue working to uncover the exact cause of the tragic crash.