Gideon Resnick

The National Transportation Safety Board says the American Airlines flight was flying at about 325 feet, and they believe the military helicopter was flying above the maximum 200 feet for its flight path. They were also investigating whether the helicopter crew were wearing their night vision equipment. Over the weekend, both black boxes were recovered.

And the incident is renewing questions about whether the D.C. area space is too crowded. Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident in Philadelphia on Friday, a medical jet carrying a young patient crashed in a neighborhood about 30 seconds after takeoff. Everyone on that plane died. Another person on the ground was also killed, and several more were injured.

And the incident is renewing questions about whether the D.C. area space is too crowded. Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident in Philadelphia on Friday, a medical jet carrying a young patient crashed in a neighborhood about 30 seconds after takeoff. Everyone on that plane died. Another person on the ground was also killed, and several more were injured.

And the incident is renewing questions about whether the D.C. area space is too crowded. Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident in Philadelphia on Friday, a medical jet carrying a young patient crashed in a neighborhood about 30 seconds after takeoff. Everyone on that plane died. Another person on the ground was also killed, and several more were injured.

And yesterday, a crucial communication system that is used to alert pilots, crews, and others working in airspace of safety issues experienced an outage that prompted federal authorities to issue delay warnings. That same system went down in January of 2023, leading to the first nationwide ground stoppage in the U.S. since 2001.

And yesterday, a crucial communication system that is used to alert pilots, crews, and others working in airspace of safety issues experienced an outage that prompted federal authorities to issue delay warnings. That same system went down in January of 2023, leading to the first nationwide ground stoppage in the U.S. since 2001.

And yesterday, a crucial communication system that is used to alert pilots, crews, and others working in airspace of safety issues experienced an outage that prompted federal authorities to issue delay warnings. That same system went down in January of 2023, leading to the first nationwide ground stoppage in the U.S. since 2001.

That incident disrupted more than 11,000 flights, according to Reuters. So it's been a nerve-wracking time for the aviation industry and has left many to wonder, is it safe to fly right now?

That incident disrupted more than 11,000 flights, according to Reuters. So it's been a nerve-wracking time for the aviation industry and has left many to wonder, is it safe to fly right now?

That incident disrupted more than 11,000 flights, according to Reuters. So it's been a nerve-wracking time for the aviation industry and has left many to wonder, is it safe to fly right now?

Zach Wichter is an aviation reporter for USA Today. He told us the last time a commercial airliner in the U.S. crashed causing the death of passengers was in 2009.

Zach Wichter is an aviation reporter for USA Today. He told us the last time a commercial airliner in the U.S. crashed causing the death of passengers was in 2009.

Zach Wichter is an aviation reporter for USA Today. He told us the last time a commercial airliner in the U.S. crashed causing the death of passengers was in 2009.

Wichter says because of that very track record, seeing these isolated incidents makes us question if something is going on.

Wichter says because of that very track record, seeing these isolated incidents makes us question if something is going on.

Wichter says because of that very track record, seeing these isolated incidents makes us question if something is going on.

Wichter reports there are a number of reasons why flying is so safe, and will likely remain that way. Chief among them is that the aviation industry is very good at learning from error and improving. The NTSB leads all investigations in the U.S., and it even participates in investigations for accidents that happen abroad, and they take all safety recommendations very seriously.

Wichter reports there are a number of reasons why flying is so safe, and will likely remain that way. Chief among them is that the aviation industry is very good at learning from error and improving. The NTSB leads all investigations in the U.S., and it even participates in investigations for accidents that happen abroad, and they take all safety recommendations very seriously.

Wichter reports there are a number of reasons why flying is so safe, and will likely remain that way. Chief among them is that the aviation industry is very good at learning from error and improving. The NTSB leads all investigations in the U.S., and it even participates in investigations for accidents that happen abroad, and they take all safety recommendations very seriously.

The DC crash was just days into Trump's presidency, and amid his efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. The AP reports that one day before the crash, employees at the Federal Aviation Administration were sent an offer to resign with eight months' pay. Air traffic controllers were not eligible, according to the Office for Personnel Management.