Plane Seat Discovered in Potomac River Near Alexandria
A man walking his dog along the Potomac River in Alexandria on Saturday found what appeared to be an airplane seat in the water, seven months after a midair crash involving a passenger jet and an Army helicopter nearby.
Andrew Guevara noted the unusual sight while walking, describing it as distinctly recognizable. “I noticed something peculiar in the water… but for some reason this one looked extremely peculiar,” he said.
The seat, equipped with a visible tray table knob, was discovered resting on the shoreline. Guevara connected the object to the January 29 incident that resulted in fatalities. He researched American Airlines seats, noting the colors matched those of the airline.
After handling the situation, Guevara contacted Alexandria police, who retrieved the seat and transferred it to D.C. police. They are sending it to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for verification of its origin from American Airlines Flight 5342. Authorities have not yet commented.
Guevara expressed that finding the seat was shocking yet surreal. “Knowing that that was a seat where a tragedy happened, I think it was important to get it to the right people,” he stated.
He plans to monitor the river in case further assistance is needed.