Washington, DC, July 31 - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has sharply criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its failure to address known safety risks prior to a tragic midair collision on January 29, 2025, between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash, which claimed 67 lives, including 60 passengers and four crew members on the jet and three soldiers on the helicopter, marked the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in over two decades. The NTSB’s investigative hearing, which began on July 30, 2025, revealed systemic failures in FAA oversight, inadequate air traffic control measures, and issues with the Army’s helicopter operations that contributed to the catastrophe.
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The collision occurred over the Potomac River as the American Airlines flight, operated by PSA Airlines, approached runway 33, a secondary runway at Reagan National Airport. The Black Hawk, on a nighttime training mission, was flying along a designated helicopter route that intersects the approach path to this runway. NTSB investigators determined that the helicopter was operating at approximately 300 feet, exceeding the 200-foot altitude limit for that corridor. Compounding this issue, the helicopter’s altimeter was found to be inaccurate, displaying readings 80 to 100 feet lower than the actual altitude. Tests conducted on three other Black Hawks from the same unit confirmed similar altimeter discrepancies, a problem attributed to the outdated design of the 1970s-era equipment, which lacks the precision of modern air data computers.
The NTSB highlighted that the FAA had been warned of the risks in Washington’s crowded airspace. Since 2021, there have been 15,200 incidents of inadequate separation between commercial planes and helicopters near Reagan National, including 85 close-call events. In 2022, an FAA air traffic working group recommended relocating helicopter routes away from the airport and establishing “hot spots” to warn pilots of potential conflicts, but these proposals were dismissed as “too political.” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed frustration at the FAA’s inaction, noting high turnover at the Reagan control tower, with three managers in two years and ten since 2014, which likely hindered consistent oversight. “Every sign was there that there was a safety risk, and the tower was telling you,” Homendy stated, criticizing the FAA for transferring personnel rather than addressing the underlying issues. Further complicating the situation, the Army helicopter was not using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology, which enhances aircraft tracking. Army policy at the time permitted turning off ADS-B during certain missions, a practice now under scrutiny. Following the crash, the FAA imposed restrictions on non-essential helicopter flights near the airport and, in May 2025, barred Army helicopters from operating around the Pentagon after another close call forced two commercial planes to abort landings.
The NTSB’s ongoing investigation, which includes analyzing air traffic control audio and cockpit voice recorders, revealed that the helicopter crew, despite being experienced and equipped with night vision goggles, requested visual separation from the jet just 20 seconds before the collision, a decision approved by an understaffed control tower managing both helicopters and planes. The hearings, set to conclude on August 1, 2025, aim to uncover why these warnings went unheeded and whether the FAA’s bureaucratic processes and the Army’s operational practices can be reformed to prevent future tragedies. The crash has prompted legislative action, with Senator Ted Cruz introducing a bill to mandate ADS-B use for military aircraft near civilian planes. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring accountability and implementing systemic changes to safeguard one of the nation’s busiest airspaces.
