WASHINGTON — A tragic incident involving a collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., resulted in the loss of 67 lives, reigniting attention towards the federal agency responsible for aviation disaster investigations.
During a press conference on Thursday, the chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Hommendy, emphasized that the agency’s investigation into the crash is being treated as a priority. This event was marked as an “all-hands-on-deck event,” as she appeared alongside board members and a senior investigator overseeing the examination of this catastrophe.
The NTSB serves as an independent federal entity tasked with probing civil aviation accidents and significant incidents related to other forms of transportation in the United States. This includes rail disasters, major vehicle accidents, incidents involving marine vessels, pipelines, and commercial space operations. Hommendy reassured the public, stating, “We are committed to thoroughly investigating this entire tragedy, examining all the facts,” while acknowledging that the investigation is just beginning.
The board comprises five members who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, each serving a term of five years.
Regarding the procedures for this particular investigation, the NTSB will form various specialized working groups to focus on different aspects related to the crash, as explained by board member Todd Inman.
These groups will cover diverse areas, including operational aspects to analyze flight history and crew roles; structural evaluations to document airframe wreckage and the accident site; power plant assessments to concentrate on aircraft engines; and systems evaluations to look into the electrical and hydraulic components of both aircraft. Additionally, an air traffic control group will assess flight track surveillance data and communication records. There will also be a focus on survival factors, investigating injuries sustained by the crew and passengers, as well as crash rescue operations.
An integral element of the investigation will be a human-performance group that intersects with operations, air traffic control, and helicopter divisions, studying crew performance and considering potential influences such as human error, fatigue, medication effects, medical histories, training, and workload, Inman noted.
While officials from the NTSB did not provide a specific timeline for the completion of this investigation, it is important to note that similar inquiries typically require between one to two years. Preliminary reports offering an overview of on-site information are generally made available within a few weeks following an incident.
The roots of the NTSB trace back to 1926 when Congress enacted a law assigning the U.S. Department of Commerce with the responsibility of investigating aircraft accidents. The agency was established as an independent body within the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1967 and became fully autonomous from other federal agencies after Congress separated it in 1974. Since its inception in 1967, the NTSB has reported investigations into over 153,000 aviation accidents and incidents.
