NTSB Convenes to Release Probable Cause Findings on 2025 DC Mid‑Air Collision
Updated (5 articles)
Joint Hearing Brings 32 Hours of Testimony From Stakeholders The National Transportation Safety Board met in Washington, D.C., on Jan 27, 2026, hearing over 32 hours of testimony from Army, FAA, PSA Airlines representatives and victims’ families [1][2]. Investigators presented detailed accounts of flight‑deck decisions, air‑traffic‑control communications, and technical system status. The hearing spanned three days, with more than ten hours recorded each of the first two days [1].
Collision Killed 67, Marking Deadliest U.S. Commercial Disaster in 16 Years On Jan 29, 2025, an Army Black Hawk helicopter struck an American Airlines regional jet operated by PSA Airlines near Reagan National Airport, killing all 64 passengers and crew on the jet plus three soldiers aboard the helicopter [1][2]. The crash remains the deadliest U.S. commercial aviation accident since 2010. Families of the victims attended the hearing, demanding accountability and swift safety reforms [2].
Operational Flaws Include ADS‑B Deactivation, Altimeter Misreadings, and Route Design Errors Testimony revealed the Army deliberately disabled the helicopter’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance‑Broadcast system despite FAA permission to use it [1]. The helicopter flew approximately 78 ft above its authorized altitude, while its barometric altimeter read 80‑100 ft low, compounding the separation shortfall [2]. The flight path over the Potomac River allowed only a 75‑ft lateral gap, a distance the NTSB chair described as “intolerable” [2].
Regulatory Changes Made Permanent as Families Push for Faster Action Following the crash, the FAA converted its temporary separation rules—prohibiting simultaneous helicopter and fixed‑wing operations near Reagan National—into a permanent restriction [2]. Victims’ families, including the first officer’s father and a cousin of another casualty, urged lawmakers and regulators to implement the board’s recommendations without delay [2]. The NTSB is expected to issue its probable‑cause report and safety recommendations later this year [1].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
CNN: NTSB to Issue Probable Cause for 2025 DC Mid‑Air Collision – Details the Jan 27 hearing, 32 hours of testimony, Army’s ADS‑B refusal, FAA tower failure, and DOJ lawsuit acknowledging pilot and controller errors .
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[2]
AP: NTSB hearing to examine multiple causes of Jan. 29 Washington air‑heli collision – Highlights the multi‑factor analysis, permanent FAA separation rules, design and altimeter flaws, historic near‑miss data, and families’ calls for rapid regulatory action .
Timeline
Jan 29, 2025 – A Black Hawk Army helicopter and a PSA Airlines‑operated American Airlines regional jet collide near Ronald Reagan National Airport, killing all 67 occupants (64 passengers/crew on the jet and three soldiers). The crash becomes the deadliest U.S. commercial aviation disaster since 2003. [1][4]
2025 (prior three years) – NTSB data record 85 near‑miss incidents and more than 15,000 close‑proximity events between helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft in the Reagan National airspace, with pilots hearing collision alarms at least monthly, underscoring a chronic safety risk. [3]
Dec 16, 2025 – FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford testifies before the House aviation subcommittee, pledging to retain the post‑crash ADS‑B mandate and the new helicopter‑fixed‑wing separation rules, and announces a $6 billion allocation for ATC modernization, including fiber‑optic upgrades. He also addresses an ethics inquiry over his Republic Airways holdings. [5]
Dec 17, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Justice files a 209‑page civil complaint admitting that an Army Black Hawk pilot and a Reagan National tower controller violated visual‑separation procedures, creating a duty‑of‑care breach claim for victims’ families. The filing also argues that other DC‑area controllers are not proximate causes. [2]
Dec 17, 2025 – In a separate government response, officials acknowledge the controller’s breach of an FAA order and the helicopter crew’s failure to maintain vigilance as contributing factors, noting the helicopter flew 78 ft above the 200‑ft limit and its altimeter read 80‑100 ft low. The crash is described as the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in two decades. [4]
Jan 26, 2026 – The NTSB holds a public hearing to examine multiple causes of the Jan 29, 2025 collision, highlighting design flaws, a disabled ADS‑B system, altitude breach, and ignored FAA warnings; Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy calls the 75‑ft separation “intolerable.” Families of victims demand rapid regulatory action. [3]
Jan 27, 2026 – The NTSB convenes its board meeting in Washington, DC, to discuss the probable cause of the collision; over 32 hours of testimony have been recorded, including the FAA’s admission that the tower failed to warn the jet crew while it warned the helicopter. Acting FAA Deputy COO Nick Fuller testifies that “no safety alerts” were given. The board will consider safety recommendations. [1]
Early 2026 (expected) – The NTSB plans to release its final probable‑cause report and safety recommendations within the next month, concluding its independent investigation. [2]
All related articles (5 articles)
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CNN: NTSB to Issue Probable Cause for 2025 DC Mid‑Air Collision
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AP: NTSB hearing to examine multiple causes of Jan. 29 Washington air‑heli collision
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CNN: US Government Admits Army and ATC Errors in Jan. 29 Midair Collision Killing 67
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AP: U.S. Government Acknowledges Partial Liability in Jan. 2025 Washington Helicopter‑Plane Collision
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AP: FAA Administrator Reaffirms Post‑Crash Safety Measures and Modernization Plans