All parts of the plane and Black Hawk helicopter are recovered after the fatal crash.
The crash occurred on January 29. Sixty-seven people died. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River. All bodies were recovered. They also got both black boxes.
The NTSB used lasers to scan the river bottom. A NOAA plane helped early Saturday. It used laser scanning tech. It flew low over the site. The lasers then mapped the riverbed.
Recovered parts will show collision angles. Investigators seek markings on the aircraft. These marks give clues about the crash. Crews will gather smaller debris next week.
Donald Trump blamed diversity hiring initially. He changed his view later. He cited an old computer system instead. This system is used by air traffic controllers, he claimed.
Trump wants to replace the system entirely. He said they spent billions fixing it badly. Federal officials worry about air traffic control. They see it as overtaxed and understaffed.
Low pay affects staffing, officials say. Long shifts and training also matter. Mandatory retirements worsen the issue. Trump wants a new air traffic control system now.
Trump believes a newer system could have alerted them. The helicopter reached the plane’s altitude. An FAA report says an alert did occur. The controller received warning signs.
The alert happened when they were a mile apart. The controller asked the helicopter crew about the plane. The helicopter was told to pass behind it. The crew confirmed visual contact.
Ted Cruz said the helicopter’s tech was off. It normally transmits data to controllers. Location and other aircraft data were not sent.
The crash involved a flight from Wichita, Kansas. It remains the deadliest US air disaster. Since 2001, no crash had this many deaths.