In a shocking mid-air collision last week, an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into an American Airlines passenger plane over Washington, D.C., raising serious concerns about aviation safety.
The accident, which occurred just before 9 p.m. on January 29 as the commercial flight was making its final descent into Reagan National Airport, resulted in the loss of all 67 people on board the two aircraft.
Now, investigators are focusing on one major question—why was the Black Hawk’s critical tracking system turned off?
Tracking System Was Disabled Without a Clear Reason
According to reports, the Black Hawk’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system was disabled at the time of the crash.
This technology is essential for tracking an aircraft’s location, altitude, and speed, giving both pilots and air traffic controllers a clear picture of their surroundings.
Military helicopters have the ability to turn off ADS-B during sensitive government missions, but officials say that was not the case here.
Senator Ted Cruz, who attended a closed-door briefing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated, “This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off.”
Military Response and Investigation Ongoing
When asked to confirm whether the tracking system was deliberately switched off, Army officials remained tight-lipped.
“We’re going to let the investigation play out and not get ahead of the NTSB findings,” said Army spokesperson Col. Roger Cabiness.
Meanwhile, recovery crews have pulled the wreckage of the Black Hawk from the Potomac River as the investigation continues.
Black Hawk Was Flying Above Permitted Altitude
In another concerning revelation, authorities confirmed that the helicopter was flying at 300 feet—100 feet above the maximum altitude allowed for helicopters in the area.
The commercial jet, cleared for landing, was at 325 feet when the collision occurred.
Black box recordings from the plane revealed that its pilots made a last-second attempt to pull up to avoid the helicopter, but it was too late.
“At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch,” said NTSB’s Todd Inman during a press briefing.
A second later, the crash was recorded.
Aviation Experts Warned of Danger Years Ago
This tragic event has reignited discussions about the dangerous airspace around Reagan National Airport.
Aviation experts have been sounding the alarm for decades about the close proximity between jets and helicopters.
FAA data reveals more than 30 reports of near-miss incidents in the area since 1987, with at least 10 involving military aircraft.
Incredibly, just 24 hours before the crash, another passenger jet had to abort its landing due to a nearby military helicopter.
FAA Moves to Reduce Air Traffic at Reagan National
In response to the accident, the FAA announced it will reduce the maximum number of hourly arrivals at Reagan National from 28 to 26, a move aimed at lowering risks and easing pressure on air traffic controllers.
An internal email obtained by Reuters noted, “Our tower personnel on duty have an increased level of stress while also having a front-row view of the accident recovery.
Reducing arrivals will allow extra coordination and reduce risk.”
Political Reactions and Calls for Change
The crash has sparked political debate as well.
Senator Ted Cruz is urging a full review of helicopter routes in commercial airspace to prevent similar tragedies.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has controversially blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies for the accident, claiming the helicopter pilots “should have seen where they were going.”
He added that safety would be a top priority in his administration, unlike previous presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, whom he accused of focusing on politics over security.
A Complex Investigation With Many Questions
With so many factors at play—the disabled tracking system, the altitude violation, and longstanding warnings about Reagan National’s airspace—investigators have their work cut out for them.
“This is a complex investigation,” said NTSB investigator Brice Banning.
“There are a lot of pieces here, and our team is working hard to gather all the data.”
As the investigation unfolds, families of the victims and the aviation community are left waiting for answers, hoping that changes will be made to prevent another disaster from happening in the future.
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