The information was based on data recovered from the jet's flight data recorder that tracks the aircraft's movements, speed and other technical information. Just before impact, the crew aboard the American flight had a "verbal reaction,

Sixty-four people aboard a commercial airliner died Wednesday after it collided with a military helicopter midair near Reagan Washington National Airport. Both the American Eagle jet and Army Black Hawk are in the Potomac River.

The U.S. Army has named the third service member who died in the collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial plane.