Gideon Resnick

Family members of those who died in the crash between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Blackhawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., gathered yesterday at the crash site as bodies were still being recovered. Many are demanding answers as to how the crash occurred. So far, here's what we know.

Family members of those who died in the crash between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Blackhawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., gathered yesterday at the crash site as bodies were still being recovered. Many are demanding answers as to how the crash occurred. So far, here's what we know.

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.

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.

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.