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Two employees of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) have been arrested for allegedly leaking surveillance footage of the tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River to CNN. The crash involved an American Airlines flight and a military Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in the deaths of all 67 people on board both aircraft.
The collision occurred when American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 64 passengers and crew, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The military helicopter, carrying three soldiers, was also in the area when the two aircraft collided and crashed into the icy river. The disaster has sparked debates regarding the role of the military chopper in the incident.
CNN obtained exclusive footage that provided a chilling new perspective on the crash. One video reportedly shows the helicopter moving in from the left as the American Airlines flight nears the airport. Another clip captures the two aircraft on a collision course before they strike each other and explode. According to CNN, both videos were recorded on cell phones.
The MWAA identified the two employees accused of leaking the footage as Mohamed Lamine Mbengue, 21, of Rockville, Maryland, and Jonathan Savoy, 45, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. "Mbengue was booked into Arlington County Adult Detention Center and later released," the agency stated, while "Savoy was issued a summons by the magistrate and cut loose." They are both facing charges of computer trespass for allegedly making an unauthorized copy of records.
Authorities have now recovered most of the bodies from the river and have begun pulling wreckage from the crash site. The recovery operation started with the remains of the American Airlines jet before focusing on the Black Hawk helicopter.
The American Airlines flight was transporting over a dozen individuals connected to the figure skating community. The MWAA, which oversees operations at both Reagan National and Dulles International airports, has not provided further details on the arrests or the ongoing investigation.
