Two employees at an airport have been charged following allegations that they leaked surveillance footage of a tragic midair collision in Washington, D.C., to CNN.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) announced on Monday that the individuals were arrested for purportedly creating an unauthorized copy of the crash video. This footage, which CNN aired last week, depicted the harrowing moment when an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet over the Potomac River, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals on board.
According to Mediaite, Mohamed Lamine Mbengue was apprehended on Friday and subsequently released. His colleague, Jonathan Savoy, faced charges on Sunday, receiving a summons before being released. Both men are accused of computer trespass related to the leak, though details on how they accessed the footage remain undisclosed by the agency.
The video, which CNN obtained and broadcast, offered a stark view of the collision's impact. The network noted that the clips were recorded on cell phones. As the investigation unfolds, officials continue to recover the wreckage of the aircraft, with federal investigators diligently working to uncover the circumstances surrounding this catastrophic event.
This incident raises questions about the security protocols in place at airports and the potential consequences of unauthorized access to sensitive information. The leak of such footage not only breaches privacy but also underscores the need for stringent measures to safeguard critical data. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on ensuring accountability and preventing similar breaches in the future.
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