CRJ700 wreckage recovered from Potomac river
February 6, 2025
The NTSB investigation into a mid-air collision over Washington DC continues, as recovered wreckage from the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 has been transferred “to a secure location for a full wreckage layout and examination”.
The PSA Airlines regional aircraft collided with a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on 29 January, resulting in the loss of 67 lives, as the former prepared to land at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. With the mid-air collision occurring over the Potomac River, the NTSB co-ordinated with the US Navy Supervisor of Salvage to commence recovery of the wreckage.
Speaking at the inaugural US National Transportation Safety Board’s press conference the following day, NTSB boardmember and investigation spokesperson Imman said that although initial focus had been on recovery and retrieval of the individuals involved, this “important safety mission” had subsequently turned its focus to the aircraft.
On 3 February, the aft fuselage, right engine and right pylon of the Bombardier CRJ700 were recovered, with the NTSB noting that “the salvage team will recover the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk after the airplane has been recovered”. FBI dive teams will also work to recover smaller pieces of wreckage in a overall process expected to take “several days”.
The following day, the Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) recovered several further elements of the wings, fuselage, “significant portions of the forward cabin and cockpit” and other structural elements. The TCAS recorder was also retrieved. Yesterday, the NTSB confirmed that while recovery operations will continue in the Potomac River, all retrieved wreckage had been “offloaded from the barge and transferred to a secure location for a full wreckage layout and examination”.
This examination of the wreckage will include accounting for major portions of the aircraft, analysing witness marks on the structure and fracture surfaces, general airworthiness of the aircraft and the TCAS related components, and cockpit switch positions and instrument readings, confirmed the NTSB. The airline’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorders are already with the NTSB laboratory for evaluation, while the Sikorsky’s recording devices will be read either by the DoD or the NTSB.
Imman has previously stated that the investigatory teams will be on scene “as long as it takes,” with the NTSB to “leave no stone unturned” in its process.
