A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in a January midair collision with an American Airlines plane over Washington, D.C., was flying above its 200-foot altitude limit, with inaccurate altimeter readings contributing to the tragedy that killed 67 people, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed during hearings on July 30. The crash, the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001, occurred near Ronald Reagan National Airport as the plane, a Bombardier CRJ700 from Wichita, Kansas, approached for landing.

NTSB investigators found the helicopter, on a training mission with night vision goggles, was 80 to 100 feet higher than its barometric altimeter indicated, a flaw also detected in tests on similar Black Hawks. Dan Cooper of Sikorsky noted the 1970s-era altimeters in these older helicopters lack the precision of modern air data computers. Army Chief Warrant Officer Kylene Lewis testified that such discrepancies were not alarming, as pilots rely more on radar altimeters at low altitudes, though cross-checking is not universally trained.

The hearings exposed systemic issues, including the FAA’s approval of helicopter routes allowing planes and helicopters to come within 75 feet during landings, despite 85 near misses in prior years. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy criticized the FAA’s inaction on known risks, noting a 2022 warning about collision dangers was ignored. “Every sign was there, and the FAA did nothing,” she said, highlighting bureaucratic failures.

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Army officials and a medevac operator assumed air traffic controllers would prevent helicopters from crossing active runways, but one controller managed both aircraft types during the crash, leading to “stepped-on” transmissions where communications were missed. The helicopter’s ADS-B Out system, meant to broadcast its location, was off, a recurring issue with Army helicopters, and even operational units were found to be incorrectly installed.

The plane’s flight data showed it attempted to climb just before impact, but it was too late. Air traffic control audio revealed the helicopter crew twice claimed they saw the plane and would avoid it, yet the collision occurred at 8:47 p.m. on January 29, 2025, over the Potomac River. Senator Ted Cruz’s proposed legislation aims to mandate ADS-B In and Out for all aircraft, revoking military exemptions, a move supported by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to address safety gaps.

Aviation lawyer Bob Clifford, representing victims’ families, decried the “finger-pointing” between the Army and FAA. Homendy emphasized the need for accountability, as the final NTSB report, due next year, will further probe these failures.

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