The crew of American Airlines Flight 5342 fought to protect their passengers until the final moments before their fatal collision with a Black Hawk helicopter.
According to Daily Mail, Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 28, attempted to pull the aircraft's nose up just seconds before Wednesday's crash over the Potomac River that claimed 67 lives.
Preliminary data from the plane's flight recorder revealed a slight increase in pitch very close to impact, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman. The investigation has also uncovered conflicting altitude readings between the airliner and helicopter at the time of the collision.
The jet's flight recorder showed it was flying at 325 feet, plus or minus 25 feet when the crash occurred. However, control tower data indicated the Black Hawk helicopter was at 200 feet. This 125-foot difference has yet to be explained by investigators.
The discrepancy is particularly concerning since helicopters in that area are restricted to a maximum altitude of 200 feet. Without data from the Black Hawk's black box, investigators cannot yet confirm its exact position at the time of impact.
First responders have identified 55 of the 67 victims in what has become America's deadliest aviation disaster since 2001. Officials are preparing for a major operation Monday to retrieve the wreckage from the river.
NTSB investigator Brice Banning shared that the jet's cockpit voice recorder captured the crew's verbal reaction in the last moments. The data showed the aircraft beginning to increase its pitch angle, followed by impact sounds roughly one second later.
The investigation team expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days, though complete investigations typically take a year or more. More than 300 responders are participating in the recovery effort at any given time.
NTSB member Inman described emotional meetings with victims' families, who are desperately seeking answers about the tragedy. Two Navy barges have been deployed to assist with lifting the heavy wreckage.
The passenger list included figure skaters returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita and a group of hunters coming back from a guided trip. The three Army personnel aboard the Black Hawk helicopter were identified as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, and Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach.
While staffing levels in the Reagan Airport control tower are under scrutiny, investigators revealed there were five controllers on duty: a local controller, ground controller, assistant controller, supervisor and supervisor in training. One controller was handling both helicopter and plane traffic, which typically occurs after 9:30 p.m. as traffic slows.
Earlier tower duty combination and various other factors are being examined as potential contributors to the tragedy. The Federal Aviation Administration has already implemented strict helicopter traffic restrictions around Reagan Airport in response to the crash.
The tragic collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter resulted in 67 fatalities when the aircraft collided over the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport. Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley made valiant efforts to save their passengers by attempting emergency maneuvers in the final seconds. The NTSB continues its complex investigation into the various factors that led to America's deadliest aviation disaster in over two decades, including conflicting altitude data and control tower procedures that may have contributed to the catastrophic event.
