Airport Authority Workers Charged After Allegedly Leaking Crash Footage

Two airport employees face legal action for allegedly leaking footage of a deadly midair collision near Washington D.C.

Quick Takes

Two Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority employees were arrested for allegedly leaking crash footage to CNN.
Leaked video showed the collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet, which killed 67 people.
The employees have been charged with computer trespass, a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia.
The crash marks the deadliest in the U.S. in over 20 years, with investigations ongoing.

Airport Employees Arrested for Leaking Crash Footage

Two employees of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) were arrested and charged with computer trespass for allegedly leaking surveillance footage of a tragic midair collision to CNN. The crash, which occurred on January 30, 2025, involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet over the Potomac River, resulting in 67 fatalities.

Mohamed Lamine Mbengue, 21, and Jonathan Savoy, 45, both MWAA employees, were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the unauthorized release of the video. The footage, which surfaced online and was first obtained by CNN, provided a chilling new perspective on the deadly crash that occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The two MWAA employees are facing charges of computer trespass, which is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. Mbengue was released on his own recognizance, while Savoy was released on a summons. The arrests came after the surveillance footage from the airport was leaked to CNN, providing what the news network described as “a more direct angle and vantage point” of the collision.

Reagan airport employees arrested for allegedly leaking video of DC plane crashhttps://t.co/TctoJ3m2Mn

— MSN (@MSN) February 4, 2025

Details of the Tragic Collision

The collision claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard both aircraft, including three fatalities from the Army helicopter and 64 from the passenger jet, which was arriving from Wichita, Kansas. This incident marks the deadliest crash in the United States in over two decades, occurring just short of the flight’s final destination at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the crash to determine its cause. Recovery efforts for the wreckage and victims’ bodies are ongoing, with authorities having recovered and identified the remains of 55 victims so far. Crews are working to remove the wreckage of both aircraft from the Potomac River.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, created by Congress to operate Reagan National and Dulles International airports, is cooperating with the ongoing federal investigation into the crash.

Ongoing Investigation and Recovery Efforts

As the legal proceedings against the airport employees unfold, the focus remains on the investigation into the cause of the crash and the recovery of victims. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the inquiry, working to piece together the events that led to this devastating collision. The tragedy has deeply affected the families of the victims and the broader community.