Two airport workers have been arrested after allegedly leaking footage of the American Airlines crash to news outlets.
As widely reported, American Airlines flight 5342 crashed while it was coming in to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29.
Tragically, the aircraft struck a military-operated Black Hawk helicopter and the wreckage of both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.
Aboard the American Airlines flight were 60 passengers and four crew, with the helicopter holding three military personnel.
Sadly, there were no survivors.
Following the tragedy, footage of the crash circulated online, and two airport workers have now been arrested as a result.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) staffers are accused of making an unauthorized copy of records and are now facing charges of computer trespass, the agency announced on Monday, per the New York Post.
The charges stem from chilling video footage that surfaced last week.
The footage captured the devastating moment when a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet collided on Wednesday night, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.
CNN’s exclusive videos revealed a closer and clearer view of the disaster. One clip shows the Black Hawk helicopter moving in from the left side of the screen as the American Airlines flight approached the airport.
Another short video captures both aircraft – one carrying three soldiers and the other a Bombardier CRJ700 – moments before they collide and explode.
CNN reported that both videos were recorded on cell phones.
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Authorities identified the suspects as Mohamed Lamine Mbengue, 21, of Rockville, Maryland, who was charged on Friday, and Jonathan Savoy, 45, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, who was charged on Sunday.
According to the MWAA, Mbengue was booked into the Arlington County Adult Detention Center and later released, while Savoy was issued a summons by a magistrate and released.
Meanwhile, recovery efforts are underway as officials continue to retrieve the wreckage of the American Airlines flight.
Most victims’ bodies have been recovered from the icy river, and authorities plan to bring parts of the plane to shore before commencing efforts to recover the Black Hawk helicopter.
The military helicopter was carrying Army Capt. Rebecca Lobach, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, and Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara.
Additionally, 14 U.S. figure skaters were among the passengers, including six members of The Skating Club of Boston.
Renowned Russian-born coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a married pair who won the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships, were also passengers.
They had spent decades coaching young skaters in New England. Their son, competitive skater Maxim Naumov, was not on the plane.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov extended condolences following the confirmation of their deaths.
“Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed,” he said. “We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash.”
Our thoughts continue to be with those impacted by this tragedy.
