Officials, Politicians, And Others React To The Tragic American Airlines Plane Crash

Jim Brauchle, an attorney and former U.S. Air Force navigator, told HuffPost he will be looking out for the “human factors analysis” from the NTSB probe.

“Based on the facts that we have now, it appears that it is a human error, and it could be a visual or perception error,” Brauchle said.

During the news conference on Thursday morning, a reporter asked Duffy whether the passenger jet was aware there was a helicopter in the area.

“I would say the helicopter was aware that there was a plane in the area,” Duffy said.

Brauchle explained that it is possible that the helicopter could have mistaken an entirely different aircraft for the passenger jet.

“It’s very easy to pick up on the wrong thing,” Brauchle told HuffPost. “And you may see a flashing light or a tower and say, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s an aircraft.’ And you start focusing on that, and then you miss the actual airplane.”

Prior to traveling to Washington, D.C., to take part in the response, Isom issued a video statement expressing American Airlines’ “deep sorrow” about the “serious accident.”

“We are actively working with local, state and federal authorities on emergency response efforts,” Isom said. “We are cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board and its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can. Our cooperation is without pause.”

A major search and rescue operation was underway in the Potomac River and officials said many agencies were assisting with the hunt for survivors.