A routine dog walk turned into a significant discovery for a Northern Virginia man who stumbled upon what may be wreckage from a deadly mid-air collision that occurred near Reagan National Airport in January.
Andrew Guevara was walking along the Potomac River over the weekend when he noticed debris at the water’s edge—specifically, what appeared to be the back of an airplane seat, complete with a tray table latch. The unusual find immediately raised suspicions.
“Knowing what happened back in January, I kind of logically drew the conclusion that it would be [from the crashed plane],” Guevara told ABC News.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) believes the debris could be linked to the tragic collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in the deaths of 67 people.
Guevara reported the find to local authorities. The Alexandria Police Department confirmed receiving his call, and DC Harbor Patrol collected the debris. The evidence is now being transferred to the NTSB for further analysis.
According to officials, the debris will be catalogued and stored with other materials recovered from the crash. The NTSB says it will follow established procedures for this and any future findings related to the incident.
Guevara emphasized that his intention was simply to ensure the wreckage made it into the hands of investigators. He described the debris as a reminder of a tragedy that should not be forgotten. Police reportedly told him this was the first new piece of wreckage discovered in several months.