The federal government opens an investigation into the crash of American Airlines at JFK Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board is opening an investigation into an accident last week when an American Airlines jet struck a runway distance indicator at takeoff from John International Airport F. Kennedy, announced the agency Wednesday.

On April 10 at 20:40, the Airbus A321, which was to embark 110 people on board, took off from New York Airport and struck the object with its left end, according to the company and the aircrafts. investigators.

The aircraft wing of American Airlines hit the ground of runway 31L, hitting the "5,000-foot" landmark that allows pilots to find out exactly how much of the track remains and how much is left. Damage to a number of runway lights, two FAA officials told ABC News.

Passenger Oran Revivo said: "Everyone froze".

"And the person next to me grabbed my arm, the one on the other side of me grabbed my arm, and everyone was very neat.It was really a terrifying moment for everyone."

According to the air traffic control audio system obtained by ABC News via LiveATC.net, the pilot at the time had reported an "uncontrolled bank … at 45 degrees to the left" and later described that the 39, lowering the wing of the aircraft "not controlled" at takeoff.

About 10 minutes after takeoff, the pilots asked to return to Kennedy to "check things out".

The pilot, according to passenger Courtney Snyder, told the passengers that there was a "computer malfunction".

The flight returned to the airport and landed safely without injuring any passengers or crew, said American Airlines in a statement.

NTSB investigations usually last between 6 and 12 months and lead to the determination by an independent agency of the probable cause of the accident.