Preliminary investigations into the January 29 midair collision near Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, have uncovered conflicting altitude data between the two aircraft involved, officials said Saturday. The crash, which resulted in the deaths of 67 people aboard an American Airlines jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, has raised concerns over flight path adherence and possible operational errors. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), data from the jet's flight recorder indicated it was flying at approximately 325 feet (99 meters), plus or minus 25 feet, at the time of impact. However, radar readings from the airport's control tower showed the helicopter at 200 feet, which was the maximum altitude permitted for its designated flight corridor. The nearly 100-foot discrepancy is now a central focus of the investigation, with officials working to reconcile the conflicting altitude data and analyze information from the helicopter's black box. NTSB board member Todd Inman emphasized the importance of resolving the issue, stating, "That's what our job is, to figure that out," during a news conference. Investigators are examining whether the helicopter deviated from its approved flight path and whether any operational missteps contributed to the collision. The US Army confirmed on Saturday the identity of the third soldier killed in the crash as Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, from North Carolina. Lobach, an aviation officer with the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, had served since July 2019 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. Earlier, the Army identified the two other soldiers who perished in the crash as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland. — Agencies
