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NTSB Uncovers Altimeter Errors and ATC Failures in Washington Midair Collision

NTSB findings of altimeter errors of up to 130 feet alongside missing air traffic control alerts have prompted Army equipment reviews under intensified FAA oversight before the final report is released next year.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy talks with staff during a brief intermission in day three of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigative hearing on the January 29 mid-air collision of an Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, at NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 1, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
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Overview

  • Investigators tested three Black Hawk helicopters and confirmed barometric altimeters were underreporting altitude by 80 to 130 feet above the Potomac River flight corridor.
  • Cockpit voice recordings show the Black Hawk crew missed a ‘pass behind’ instruction 15 seconds before impact because the command was inaudible in the cockpit.
  • FAA Air Traffic Oversight Service acknowledged that no traffic advisories or safety alerts were issued to the American Airlines CRJ700 prior to the collision.
  • The U.S. Army has launched equipment reviews while Congress increases scrutiny of FAA exemptions and route management in congested Reagan National airspace.
  • The NTSB will publish its final probable cause report within a year, setting the stage for permanent route changes and broader aviation safety reforms.