A black box from American Airlines Flight 5342 has been recovered after a crash involving a military helicopter in Wichita, Kansas.
Wichita: A black box from American Airlines Flight 5342 has been found. This flight collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter. Reports say one flight data recorder is located, but it’s unclear which black box holds key information.
President Donald Trump has made accusations about the crash. He blames DEI hiring policies and past administrations. However, the official investigation is still ongoing.
The black box records important flight details from the last 25 hours. This includes speed and other data that could explain the crash. A cockpit voice recorder can also reveal conversations between pilots and air traffic control before the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the crash involved a regional jet landing in Wichita and a military helicopter with three soldiers. Conditions were clear at the time of the crash.
Before landing, air traffic controllers asked Flight 5342 if it could use a shorter runway. The crew agreed and received clearance to land. They adjusted their approach accordingly.
Less than 30 seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it saw the plane. The controller then instructed the helicopter to let the jet pass first.
Unfortunately, there was no response, and the two aircraft collided. The plane’s radio stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet from the runway, over the Potomac River. The main body of the plane was found upside-down in shallow water, along with the helicopter wreckage.
NTSB officials are working to retrieve data from both aircraft. A report revealed that one air traffic controller was managing both helicopter and plane traffic during the crash.
This is usually handled by two controllers, making it an unusual situation. However, an insider said staffing levels on Wednesday nights are standard. Controllers often combine roles during breaks or slow traffic.
Trump, along with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, suggested the crash could have been avoided. In a briefing, Trump pointed fingers at the helicopter pilots and criticized diversity policies affecting air safety.
Later, Trump signed a memorandum on aviation safety, claiming it would reverse damage done by the Biden administration. He again criticized diversity and inclusion policies, facing backlash from Black lawmakers.
