1:49A crane hoists a segment of American Airlines flight 5342 from the Potomac River during recovery operations on Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. Win Mcnamee/Getty Images
The tragic mid-air collision at Reagan Airport in January was the result of years of issues, the operations manager of the DCA air traffic control tower on the night of the incident revealed to the National Transportation Safety Board on Friday.
"I don't believe this incident transpired that night," Clark Allen, the operations manager, stated at the investigative hearing. "I think it was the culmination of events that occurred years prior, involving discussions about resources, whether they were accessible or not at various times, and whether individuals were listened to during critical moments. This was not solely about that evening; it was a buildup over many years that I think contributed to that night."
The NTSB wrapped up three days of hearings late Friday, where investigators interrogated officials from the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Army, American Airlines regional affiliate PSA Airlines, and other stakeholders regarding January’s mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., which resulted in 67 fatalities.
This marked the nation's first significant commercial airline disaster since 2009.
During the hearings, it was revealed that the Army helicopter did not receive the instruction from the air traffic controller to "pass behind the CRJ" because the transmission was interrupted. Additionally, it was disclosed that the pilots of the aircraft were not alerted by the controller about the proximity of the helicopter or given clearance to operate near it.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy addresses the beginning of a hearing to investigate the mid-air collision involving American Airlines Eagle flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter above the Potomac River in Washington, Aug. 1, 2025. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy also criticized the FAA for failing to provide a complete roster of personnel working in the control tower during the night of the incident until July 6, months after the event.
Pilots likely unaware of their altitude
The NTSB’s inquiry discovered inconsistencies in the altitude readings displayed on the radio and barometric altimeters of Army helicopters after conducting test flights subsequent to January’s incident.
It is probable that the helicopter crew was unaware of their actual altitude due to the notoriously inaccurate altimeters found in this series of Black Hawks, as indicated by the investigation. At their closest approach, helicopters and planes came within 75 feet of one another near DCA, an alarmingly narrow margin. During the hearings, the NTSB was informed that Army Black Hawks frequently produce incorrect readings and have a margin of error of ±200 feet.
"I am troubled by the possibility that what the crew perceived was significantly different from their actual altitude. In May, we conducted tests that highlighted concerns regarding the altimeters, specifically the barometric altimeters on the 60 Lima. Therefore, we are worried, and it is something we need to further investigate regarding how critical a difference of 100 feet is in this context," Homendy expressed to reporters on Wednesday.
Army representatives informed the NTSB investigators that they intend to notify other military aviation officials about the altitude discrepancies by September, but NTSB board member Todd Inman reproached this for lacking urgency.
The Army officials stated they are also addressing the issue by mentioning it in public testimony.
"I hope that no Army aviator is required to watch the NTSB.gov livestream to learn about discrepancies in their altitudes and the planes operating around them," Inman remarked.
Emergency responders attend to the scene after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington,
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
