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NTSB Reveals Altitude Flaws, Communication Gaps at D.C. Collision Hearings

Revelations of Black Hawk barometric altimeters underreporting altitude by up to 130 feet have intensified calls for mandatory ADS-B tracking

FILE - Salvage crews work on recovering wreckage near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Image
A crane retrieves part of the wreckage from American Airlines flight 5342, which was operated by PSA Airlines, on February 4, 2025.
KDCA Reagan D.C. airport air traffic control ATC

Overview

  • The NTSB opened a three-day hearing on July 30 in Washington to examine the January midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.
  • Preliminary testing presented at the hearing showed Black Hawk barometric altimeters underreported altitude by 80 to 130 feet over the Potomac River, contradicting cockpit readings.
  • Investigators highlighted incomplete radio transmissions that may have prevented the helicopter crew from hearing air traffic control’s separation instructions.
  • Victims’ family members attended the hearings as Senators Ted Cruz and Jerry Moran unveiled bipartisan legislation to require all military and civilian aircraft to broadcast their positions via ADS-B.
  • The FAA’s permanent ban on the collision corridor and routine disabling of ADS-B on Army helicopters have come under scrutiny as lawmakers and safety experts press for broader airspace reforms.