In a devastating incident, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger plane near Reagan National Airport, leaving 67 people dead.
Investigators believe the crew may have been wearing night-vision goggles at the time of the crash, raising new questions about safety procedures during military training missions.
The Training Mission That Turned Fatal
The Black Hawk was conducting a routine training exercise on January 29, intended to renew the annual certification of 28-year-old Captain Rebecca M. Lobach.
As the helicopter was maneuvering through the airspace, it tragically intersected with American Airlines Flight 5342, which was making its final descent into the airport just before 9 PM.
Investigators Focus on Night-Vision Goggles
Authorities are now scrutinizing whether the helicopter crew was wearing night-vision goggles, which could have impacted their ability to see and respond to the approaching aircraft.
Jennifer Homendy, head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated that based on cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data, the soldiers likely followed expected safety guidelines and were using the visual aid.
“We do believe, given the mission and what we’ve heard—or rather, not heard—on the CVR, that they were wearing night-vision goggles,” Homendy said.
If they had not been using them, protocol would have required them to declare they were flying unaided, but there was no such indication on the CVR.
ADS-B Tracking System Was Turned Off
Another troubling discovery in the investigation was that the Black Hawk’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system was disabled at the time of the crash.
This system provides real-time data on an aircraft’s location, altitude, and speed, offering crucial situational awareness to both pilots and air traffic controllers.
Military helicopters sometimes turn off the ADS-B for national security reasons, such as protecting the location of government officials.
However, Senator Ted Cruz pointed out that this was a training mission, and there was no apparent reason for the system to be disabled.
“There was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off in this case,” Cruz stated after a closed-door briefing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NTSB.
Black Hawk Was Flying Above Allowed Altitude
Investigators also confirmed that the Black Hawk was flying above the permitted altitude for helicopters in commercial airspace.
The aircraft was at 300 feet, exceeding the 200-foot limit set for helicopters in that area.
Meanwhile, the American Airlines plane was at 325 feet, cleared to land.
Black box data from the wreckage in the Potomac River suggests that in the final moments, the passenger plane’s pilots attempted to climb to avoid the crash.
The NTSB’s Todd Inman described the last-second maneuver, saying, “At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight increase in pitch.”
Unfortunately, the efforts were not enough to prevent the collision.
Crowded Airspace and Longstanding Safety Concerns
Aviation experts have long warned about the congested airspace near Reagan National Airport, calling it a disaster waiting to happen.
Reports dating back to 1987 document over 30 near-midair collisions, with at least 10 involving military aircraft.
Alarmingly, seven of these involved military helicopters under similar circumstances, including one just a day before the deadly crash.
The FAA is now taking action by reducing the number of arrivals at Reagan National Airport from 28 to 26 per hour.
Officials believe this adjustment will lower stress levels for air traffic controllers and provide additional time for coordination.
Calls for Further Safety Reviews
Senator Cruz has urged the FAA to conduct a comprehensive review of all helicopter routes that pass through commercial airspace to identify additional risks.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump weighed in with controversial remarks, blaming diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for the tragedy.
He claimed that those flying the Black Hawk should have “seen where they were going” and vowed to prioritize safety over politics.
Investigation Continues as Families Mourn
With all 67 victims now recovered from the water, investigators continue piecing together the details of this complex crash.
Brice Banning, the NTSB investigator in charge, emphasized the difficulty of the task ahead.
“There are a lot of pieces here,” Banning said. “Our team is working hard to gather all the data.”
As authorities work toward answers, families of the victims are left grappling with an unimaginable loss.
The tragedy has intensified calls for stronger aviation safety measures to prevent another catastrophic collision in the skies.