The Army pilots were juggling dark skies, low altitude, a busy airspace and a cockpit without certain traffic detectors before the helicopter’s midair crash with a regional passenger jet.

Authorities are actively investigating the tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport.

The Army helicopter that collided with a passenger plane above the Potomac River boasted an experienced crew doing “an unforgiving job.” Friends and relatives are still baffled and mourning their loss.

More than a week after the deadly collision of a passenger jet and a helicopter, crews forged ahead with salvage efforts in the Potomac River.

Newly released data from ground-based radar came out Tuesday suggesting an Army helicopter was higher than it was supposed to be when it collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 a week ago, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

The investigation into the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter is revealing a critical safety system on the helicopter was turned off at the time of the crash.

Black Hawk helicopter pulled out of Potamac River in DC one week after fatal crash with jetliner