A small commercial plane and a U. S. Army helicopter crashed head-on over the Potomac River in Virginia on a Wednesday night this month. This resulted in the deaths of 64 passengers and crew on the commercial flight, plus a crew of 3 in the helicopter. All 67 victims have been found, and officials are working hard to identify them. This disaster marks the deadliest U. S. air crash since 2001 and the first major passenger airline crash in nearly 16 years. The Black Hawk helicopter, which was on a routine training mission, collided with an American Airlines regional jet just seconds away from landing at Reagan National Airport. That's a tough spot to be in for the air traffic controller on duty.  Wreckage of the Bombardier CRJ-700 plane, including an engine, fuselage, and other parts, have been pulled from the water. This is no easy task for rescue responders.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation. They've recovered data recorders from both the plane and the helicopter. Everyone is wondering, what happened? A key question is about the altitude. At the time of the collision, the American Airlines flight was at 300 feet, which is above the 200 feet limit for helicopters in the area according to rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

     It was only after the crash that the FAA decided to ban helicopters from flying near the airport until further notice.

     Close to 2000 employees of American Airlines have volunteered as part of the CARE Team. Their job is to step up and help victims and their families when something goes really wrong, like this. " makes you wonder what aviation experts think of this event.  CARE Team members are trained to support families, coordinate travel arrangements, and provide assistance with logistics. They listen to families and do what they need to do.  What are they doing?  American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has made sure to visit and  supprt local employees and officials where the disaster occured.

     Isom has called for a moment of silence on Wednesday, making employees to remember the victims.

     Air crashes? Rare. But they happen. And when they do, it's a lot for everyone, especially for the company and especially for the family members.

     But still, can we expect more from aviation safety?  more training?

     Some have said that the airport should update regulations and safety measures to prevent such incidents. That's a fair point. The CARE Team has provided a lot of support to affected families. They are providing transportation, arranging child, elder, or pet care, and assisting with logistics. But the question remains, could this have been prevented?

Disaster in the Sky: Deadly Collision

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