Authorities in Washington, D.C., have arrested two employees of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) on charges they illegally copied and leaked official video footage of last week's fatal midair collision involving a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet. The incident, which claimed the lives of 67 people, occurred on January 29 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and remains under investigation.
The collision took place just outside the airport, sending debris into the Potomac River and sparking widespread media attention. According to officials, the leaked video purports to show the exact moment the helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 collided, resulting in what is being called the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than two decades.
The MWAA identified the suspects as 21-year-old Mohamed Lamine Mbengue of Rockville, Maryland, and 45-year-old Jonathan Savoy of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Both are accused of committing computer trespass, a misdemeanor charge in Virginia, after allegedly making an unauthorized copy of the Airports Authority's confidential footage. A spokesperson for MWAA said the arrests were made upon discovering the footage had been provided to at least one major media outlet.
Court records show Mbengue was taken into custody on January 31 and subsequently released on his own recognizance from the Arlington County Adult Detention Center. Officials say he was set to appear for arraignment on Monday, but the hearing did not proceed as planned. His attorney status was unknown as of Tuesday, and he has until May 2 to inform the court if he has legal representation.
Savoy's arrest followed as authorities continued to investigate the breach. He was arrested on Sunday and also charged with computer trespass. The court released him on a summons. As of Tuesday, no information had been made public regarding his next court date or possible legal representation.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are working to determine what caused the collision between the helicopter and the passenger flight, which was en route to DCA. Officials have said that the focus remains on retrieving all debris from the Potomac River and identifying the remaining victims of the crash. Details about how the two aircraft came into contact have not been disclosed, pending the ongoing probe.
The MWAA has provided only limited information on how its security systems were bypassed, noting that the employees allegedly accessed and copied sensitive footage without authorization. Spokesperson Rob Yingling confirmed that both individuals faced misdemeanor charges related to the unauthorized release of materials. Yingling declined to elaborate on potential internal disciplinary measures, citing the active criminal and administrative investigations.
The viral video in question was broadcast widely after its leak, sparking criticism about security lapses and raising concerns that sensitive government records could again be improperly shared. Officials at MWAA indicated there are no immediate plans to alter existing data protocols, but acknowledged they are reviewing policies to prevent future leaks.