The Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines regional jet last month may not have heard an order to pass behind the aircraft, according to safety officials investigating the fatal crash.
The air traffic control direction was delivered 17 seconds before impact, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said during a news conference on Friday. She explained that the crew may not have heard the phrase “pass behind the” before they tried to communicate with the control tower.