Army Report Details Systemic Failures in Deadly D.C. Midair Collision

A U.S. Army report has identified numerous systemic failures that contributed to the deadly midair collision last year between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. The military has recommended a series of steps to prevent future tragedies.

The report, completed in May and obtained by the Associated Press, details how breakdowns across multiple layers of conflict management led to the accident. The deadliest plane crash on U.S. soil in over two decades occurred when the helicopter collided with the descending airliner as it approached Reagan National Airport, sending both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people aboard.

While the Army report largely aligns with the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) findings, the military's investigation focused on its own failings. The NTSB's broader civilian investigation had previously pointed to years of missed warning signs by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a weak military safety culture.

The Army report highlighted that the air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport could have taken actions to prevent the crash. However, it also acknowledged the military's internal shortcomings. The report noted that two broken radio transmissions were a significant contributing factor, preventing the helicopter crew from identifying Flight 5342 as it circled to land. The military pilots were also using night-vision goggles, which limited their field of vision and made it difficult to spot the plane amid city lights.

Furthermore, the helicopter route in use at the time of the crash provided only 75 feet of vertical separation between the helicopter and planes landing on the secondary runway. This insufficient separation did not account for the accepted level of error in a Black Hawk's altimeter. The NTSB had found the helicopter was flying nearly 100 feet higher than its instruments indicated.

In response to the findings, the Army stated its commitment to transparency and acknowledged the families' need for answers. The military has since strengthened its training for helicopter crews and inspected and reconfigured all affected Army helicopters after discovering the ADS-B Out system on the Black Hawk was inoperable. Efforts are also underway to improve how the Army monitors safety concerns and to establish an agreement with the FAA for sharing information about close calls.

The NTSB has indicated satisfaction with the Army's progress on seven of eight safety recommendations, a stark contrast to the FAA, which the NTSB has faulted for failing to implement about one-third of its recommendations. The Army report also recommended that the military examine helicopter flight risks in other major cities where its aircraft operate, with reviews ongoing in areas like Los Angeles and the Seattle-Tacoma region.

Families of the passengers on the American Airlines flight have renewed their call for Congress to pass aviation safety reforms. They are urging for legislation requiring aircraft to be equipped with collision avoidance technology, stating that the necessary technology is proven and the need for action is clear. Both the House and Senate have passed different aviation safety bills, but lawmakers are still working to reconcile them into a single piece of legislation for a vote.