Deadly Black Hawk Collision Sparks Urgent Safety Review in Washington D.C.

After the fatal crash in January between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), federal crash inspectors have issued urgent warnings about a dangerous helicopter route. 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the helicopter's flight path, Route 4, posed a "intolerable" risk because it was only 75 feet away from planes landing on DCA's runway 33. 

This was one of the main reasons why three soldiers and 64 passengers on American Eagle Flight 5342 died. Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, wants to limit Route 4 immediately when certain runways are in use and has asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop a safer option. 

The NTSB study also found a disturbing history of close calls. Between 2021 and 2024, over 15,000 close calls happened between helicopters and planes at DCA, with 85 of those times the aircraft came dangerously close. Also, between 2011 and 2014, collision reports were sent out every month, often at night, bringing to light a long-standing safety issue. While officials continue to look into possible problems with the Black Hawk's altimeter, they also have to deal with the spread of false information, such as conspiracy theories that have made things even worse for the families of the victims. 

The Army Black Hawk, part of Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a typical training mission with three experienced pilots and a crew chief on board when the terrible crash happened.

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