Emily Steel

But what people that we've talked to today have said is that they think that the helicopter pilot saw another airplane that wasn't the American Airlines jet that it crashed into.

But what people that we've talked to today have said is that they think that the helicopter pilot saw another airplane that wasn't the American Airlines jet that it crashed into.

Exactly. What we also know is that the military said today that the pilots on the helicopter were wearing night goggles, which could have limited their vision. We don't know what they were seeing. We don't know if there were bright lights blaring into their eyes. We don't know if they mistook a different airplane for that American Airlines jet that they crashed into.

Exactly. What we also know is that the military said today that the pilots on the helicopter were wearing night goggles, which could have limited their vision. We don't know what they were seeing. We don't know if there were bright lights blaring into their eyes. We don't know if they mistook a different airplane for that American Airlines jet that they crashed into.

Yes. And what we've just learned is that the helicopter appears to have been flying outside of its approved flight path. That matches something that the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said earlier today. He said that there had been a mistake and an elevation issue with the helicopter, and we didn't know exactly what he was referring to. This kind of matches up with that.

Yes. And what we've just learned is that the helicopter appears to have been flying outside of its approved flight path. That matches something that the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said earlier today. He said that there had been a mistake and an elevation issue with the helicopter, and we didn't know exactly what he was referring to. This kind of matches up with that.

The helicopter was supposed to be flying closer to the bank of the Potomac River and lower to the ground as it came into the Reagan National Airspace.

The helicopter was supposed to be flying closer to the bank of the Potomac River and lower to the ground as it came into the Reagan National Airspace.

Yes. The way that you described it is perfect. What those air traffic controllers are supposed to do is keep planes separated in the sky. They manage takeoffs and landings and they make sure that planes and helicopters and other aircraft stay in safe distances from each other.

Yes. The way that you described it is perfect. What those air traffic controllers are supposed to do is keep planes separated in the sky. They manage takeoffs and landings and they make sure that planes and helicopters and other aircraft stay in safe distances from each other.

But what several people that we've talked to today have said that the controller during this incident should have been more proactive. They said that this guy didn't do enough. Instead of just alerting the pilot of the helicopter that there was traffic, they also could have called out to the American Airlines jet and to say, hey, there's this helicopter that's here. be on alert, be on alert.

But what several people that we've talked to today have said that the controller during this incident should have been more proactive. They said that this guy didn't do enough. Instead of just alerting the pilot of the helicopter that there was traffic, they also could have called out to the American Airlines jet and to say, hey, there's this helicopter that's here. be on alert, be on alert.

And instead of giving just these broad general descriptions to say, there's traffic, go behind the plane. What people that we've talked to today have said is that they should have been more specific.

And instead of giving just these broad general descriptions to say, there's traffic, go behind the plane. What people that we've talked to today have said is that they should have been more specific.

They should have said, there's another aircraft at one o'clock and given the airplane some sort of vectoring or given the pilot specific directions of where to go and what to do to actively take those airplanes apart from each other's paths.

They should have said, there's another aircraft at one o'clock and given the airplane some sort of vectoring or given the pilot specific directions of where to go and what to do to actively take those airplanes apart from each other's paths.

So as I've mentioned, we are still learning why. We're still trying to figure out exactly what happened and what went wrong. What we do know is that we got our hands on an internal FAA safety report today. And what that showed is that the staffing at this air traffic control tower was not normal for the time of day or for the volume of traffic.

So as I've mentioned, we are still learning why. We're still trying to figure out exactly what happened and what went wrong. What we do know is that we got our hands on an internal FAA safety report today. And what that showed is that the staffing at this air traffic control tower was not normal for the time of day or for the volume of traffic.

And the controller who is handling the helicopters in that airport's vicinity was also instructing the planes that were landing and departing from the airport's runways. Those jobs are typically handled by two different controllers rather than just one.

And the controller who is handling the helicopters in that airport's vicinity was also instructing the planes that were landing and departing from the airport's runways. Those jobs are typically handled by two different controllers rather than just one.