Connect with us

Washington, D.C

All major pieces of plane and helicopter in mid-air collision in Washington DC have been recovered, say crash investigators

Published

on

All major pieces of plane and helicopter in mid-air collision in Washington DC have been recovered, say crash investigators


All major pieces have now been recovered of the passenger plane and US army helicopter which collided in mid-air in Washington DC last week, say safety officials.

Sixty-seven people were killed in the 29 January disaster which left both aircraft in the Potomac River after they plunged into the water. The remains of all the victims have been recovered. There were no survivors.

Salvage crews have been working to recover the wreckage of the American Airlines jet and the Black Hawk helicopter.

Image:
Wreckage from the collision. Pic: NTSB

Their black boxes have been found and crash debris is now in a hangar in Arlington, Virginia, as the probe continues.

Advertisement

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said: “Investigators will be looking for witness marks on the aircraft that could provide clues to the angle of collision.”

On Saturday, a plane equipped with lasers flew low over the crash scene as it scanned the bottom of the river. Crews will spend the coming days looking for smaller debris before finishing the work in around a week.

At the time of the disaster, American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew, was preparing to land at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, while the Sikorsky helicopter, with three pilots on board, was on a training exercise.

Read more:
What we know about the victims
Helicopter pilot was former White House aide

Washington plane crash map

Helicopter was ‘above limit’

The jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325ft (99m), plus or minus 25ft (7.6m).

Advertisement

The helicopter was flying at 300ft (91m), which was 100ft (30.5m) over the maximum allowed for that route, the NTSB has said.

Wreckage is now in a hangar. Pic: NTSB
Image:
Wreckage has now been placed in a hangar. Pic: NTSB

An investigator inspects wreckage from the crash. Pic: NTSB
Image:
An investigator inspects wreckage from the crash. Pic: NTSB

Key safety system turned off

Earlier this week, it emerged that a key safety system was turned off on the helicopter.

Senate commerce committee chairperson Ted Cruz, who has been briefed by investigators, said the Black Hawk had switched off its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which is allowed for military aircraft.

ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology to track aircraft location. Mr Cruz said the helicopter had a transponder so it would appear on radar but ADS-B is much more accurate.

“This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off,” Mr Cruz said.

Read more from Sky News:
Judge pauses Trump plan to put thousands of workers on leave
41 killed and bus burned out after collision with truck in Mexico

Also, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started reviewing airports with high numbers of mixed helicopter and plane traffic nearby after Mr Cruz said he had wanted a safety review.

President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed the collision on what he called an “obsolete” computer system used by US air traffic controllers and vowed to replace it.

Advertisement

👉 Follow Trump 100 on your podcast app 👈

He has also linked a diversity drive at the FAA under previous governments to the crash.

It has since been said there is no evidence to support the president’s claim.

Advertisement

Last week’s crash was the deadliest US air disaster since 12 November 2001, when a jet hit a New York City neighbourhood soon after take-off, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground.



Source link

Washington, D.C

Storm Team4 Forecast: Foggy Friday morning with scattered showers

Published

on

Storm Team4 Forecast: Foggy Friday morning with scattered showers


4 things to know about the weather:

  1. So Many Clouds
  2. Not Too Much Rain
  3. Milder For The Weekend
  4. Warmer Days Next Week

The dividing line between the 50s and the 70s is a cold front that has been wedged right down into our area by high pressure anchored over New England. East winds will bring our air off the ocean and Bay and both of those bodies of water are COLD this time of year.

Afternoon highs will stay in the 40s near the Bay, should reach the low/mid 50s near DC and could be near 60° west of Fredericksburg.

Very little sunshine today but not too much of a rain chance. Clouds, fog and 40s for all tonight.

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

Advertisement

A developing storm over the Ohio Valley will finally begin to push that high pressure away tomorrow. Our afternoon highs will be dependent on how soon our wind can turn around to the Southwest.

Plan for a cloudy and chilly Saturday morning with a big jump in temperatures by mid-afternoon. Northern and Northeastern Maryland will remain cooler, but the rest of the area should pop above 70° for the first time this year.

The aforementioned storm will send a front through our area Saturday night. That front will bring a round of showers along with it. Showers will be likely Saturday evening and night.

The majority of that rain chance will be ending before noon on Sunday and the return of a little sun on Sunday afternoon should warm most areas to near 70° once again.

The first few days of next week will feel more like May than March. Highs on Monday should be near 75° and both Tuesday and Wednesday could top 80°. That warm pattern won’t last long, but it sure will feel good.

Advertisement

QuickCast

TODAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Coolest Along, East Of I-95
Isolated Showers
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 48° to 62°

TONIGHT:
Cloudy And Damp
Isolated Showers
Areas Of Fog
Wind: East 5-10 mph
Chance Of Rain: 20%
LOWS: 40° to 45°

SATURDAY:
Partly To Mostly Cloudy
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Showers
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 65° to 75°

SUNDAY:
Partly Sunny
AM: Showers Likely
PM: Dry For Most
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°

MONDAY:
Sun And Clouds
Nice And Mild
Light Breeze
Wind: Variable 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 66° to 72°

Advertisement

Sunrise: 6:33       Sunset: 6:06
Average High: 53°  Average Low: 36°

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.



Source link

Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night

Published

on

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night


4 things to know about the weather:

  1. Grab the umbrella
  2. Big temperature ranges
  3. Thunder possible Thursday night
  4. Warmer days on the way

Heads up commuters! For Thursday morning, there will be some thick fog in spots with some rain possible, especially around the Mason-Dixon line. The fog should clear out by 10 a.m.

Throughout the day, some sunshine should develop with highs warming into the low 60s. Those in Northern Maryland could see some showers throughout the day but those near the D.C. area will stay relatively dry except for a stray shower or two.

Some rain and evening storms by 8 p.m. will impact the area Thursday night. Although it’s a bit unusual for this time of year, don’t be surprised if you hear thunder Thursday evening.

Warmer temperatures coming this weekend

These next few days will come with some major forecast challenges.

Advertisement

Much, much warmer air is just to our south and cold, high pressure is moving into New England. The front separating the 40s from the 70s will be laying right across our region for the next two to three days.

So keep in mind, when you’re looking at the forecast highs in the text below, that it will be warmest in Fredericksburg, VA and coolest in northern Maryland.

Friday’s weather will be similar as a front system remains just over the area, separating chilly air to the north and warmer air to the south. There might be a stray shower or two, too.

For the weekend, Saturday looks to be the warmer of the two days with highs in the low to mid 70s. Some rain overnight Saturday will lead to cooler temperatures on Sunday.

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

Advertisement

QuickCast

THURSDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Stray Shower Possible
Big Temperature Range
Wind: Southeast 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 62° to 72°

THURSDAY NIGHT:
Cloudy And Chilly
Rain Likely
Some Thunder Possible
Wind: Northeast 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 70%
LOWS: 44° to 54°

FRIDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler For Most
Isolated Shower Or Two
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 52° to 68°

SATURDAY:
Partly Sunny
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Shower
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 66° to 78°

SUNDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler
Few Showers Possible
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°

Advertisement

Sunrise: 6:35       Sunset: 6:05
Average High: 53°  Average Low: 36°

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.



Source link

Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute

Published

on

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute


D.C. taxpayers may be confused by back-and-forth between the D.C. City Council and Congress over taxprovision. The city’s financial officer sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, that said the District’s tax laws will not change, despite recent actions by Congress.

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy.

“The short answer is, nothing changes. Filing Season can continue as it has been, continue as planned, and according to the laws as we understood them in January,” said Husak.

“If you’ve already filed your taxes, you don’t have to change anything. And if you want to file your taxes, the rules are still the same as they were on the books before,” said Husak.

Advertisement

RELATED | DC Council Chairman talks taxes, budget, bodycams, federal surge

Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s revenue estimate issued Friday does not include an estimated $180 million expected this fiscal year from the city’s decoupling law, “due to the uncertainty of the associated revenue as a result of Joint Resolution 142,” according to a released letter.

“The CFO was in a tough spot here. If he agreed with Congress, then businesses and overtime workers will get bigger refunds. But if he agreed with the Mayor and the Attorney General, then families with children and lower income workers would get bigger tax cuts,” said Husak.

SEE MORE | Development of new Commanders stadium scrutinized at DC oversight hearing

“We as District residents can’t control, you know what happens in the courts, what happens in, you know, what Congress does in the future,” said Husak. “But for now, the CFO has said, you know this is, this is a law as it stands, and the law that I’m going to enforce so, you know, file your legally obligated taxes, and maybe in the future, there’ll be a surprise.”

Advertisement

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy (7News).{ }



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending