NTSB Investigates Deadly Mid-Air Collision Near D.C. Airport

In a tragic incident on January 29, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional flight near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., killing 64 people on the plane and three in the helicopter. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed that the crash was likely caused by faulty altitude data in the Army chopper, which led it to fly above the permitted 200-foot altitude limit.
The investigation found that the helicopter’s barometric altimeters underreported its altitude by 80 to 130 feet, causing the crew to believe they were flying lower than they actually were. This discrepancy, though within the Army’s acceptable tolerance of ±100 feet, resulted in the chopper flying too high and colliding with the commercial flight.
The NTSB also highlighted concerns over insufficient vertical separation between the military helicopter and the commercial aircraft, as well as the FAA-approved flight paths near the airport. Audio evidence from cockpit recordings and air traffic control transmissions showed that the American Airlines flight was redirected to a different runway just minutes before the collision.
During the three-day hearing, the NTSB released nearly 10,000 pages of evidence, including transcripts of communications between pilots and air traffic controllers. The investigation is ongoing, with additional witnesses, including FAA officials and Army aviation leaders, set to testify. The NTSB aims to identify the root causes of the collision and implement measures to prevent future accidents.

Published: 7/31/2025