Media: Two airport employees arrested for leaking Washington plane crash footage

Two employees of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) have been arrested in connection with the leaked video of a tragic midair collision between a military helicopter and a commercial jet.

The video shows the moment a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet during a nighttime training mission, resulting in 67 fatalities, including three Army soldiers, Caliber.Az reports via Fox10.

Mohamed Lamine Mbengue, 21, of Rockville, Maryland, was arrested on January 31 and charged with computer trespass under Virginia law. He was booked into the Arlington County Adult Detention Center before being released.

Jonathan Savoy, 45, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was arrested on February 2, also charged with computer trespass. Savoy was released on a summons.

Both men are accused of making an unauthorized copy of Airports Authority records, although authorities have not disclosed how the footage was obtained or distributed. The MWAA and law enforcement officials have not clarified whether the individuals sold the video to CNN or provided it for free.

As the investigation continues, it remains unclear if additional charges will be filed, or if further individuals are involved in the leak.

Notably, tragic midair collision on January 29 near Reagan Washington National Airport between an American Eagle commercial jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The crash, which occurred shortly before 9 p.m. ET, resulted in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The American Eagle flight, with 60 passengers and four crew members, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, while the Black Hawk was conducting a training flight with three soldiers on board.

The investigation into the cause of the collision, led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is ongoing. Initial reports indicate that weather and communication were not factors, as skies were clear and pilots were in contact with air traffic control.

The NTSB is focusing on the helicopter’s altitude and the interaction between both pilots. It was revealed that a single controller was managing both helicopter and fixed-wing traffic, which may have contributed to the accident.

By Aghakazim Guliyev