Two Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) employees face charges for allegedly leaking security footage of the January 29th mid-air collision between a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 near Washington Reagan National Airport. The footage, which reportedly ended up on CNN, captured the immediate aftermath of the incident, including the recovery of victims from the Potomac River.
21-year-old Mohamed Lamine Mbengue of Rockville, Maryland, was arrested on January 31st and charged with computer trespass, a misdemeanor. Following further investigation, 45-year-old Jonathan Savoy of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was also arrested and charged with the same crime. Court documents indicate Savoy used a work phone to record the sensitive footage from a computer connected to a restricted MWAA network.
Mohamed Lamine Mbengue (FOX 5 DC/ Arlington Co. Sheriff's Office)
Midair collision at Reagan Washington National Airport (EarthCam)
Wreckage in the Potomac River (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
A complaint details how Savoy recorded video of deceased individuals being recovered from the crash site. While a complaint for Mbengue wasn't immediately available, both individuals have been charged in connection with unauthorized access and copying of official airport records. Savoy was released on a summons, while Mbengue was booked into the Arlington County Adult Detention Center and later released on his own recognizance.
The collision resulted in 67 fatalities. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with authorities working to identify all victims and clear debris from the Potomac River. Preliminary information suggests the Black Hawk crew was using night-vision goggles. Furthermore, Senator Ted Cruz revealed the helicopter's automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) was deactivated, a permissible action for military aircraft, though its necessity in this training mission was questioned.
