Deadly Midair Collision Near D.C. Followed Years of Ignored Warnings

NTSB cites systemic issues across multiple organizations as the cause of the crash that killed 67 people

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:07pm

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National Transportation Safety Board members were deeply troubled over years of ignored warnings about helicopter traffic dangers and other problems, long before an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk collided a year ago, killing 67 people near Washington, D.C. The NTSB cited the placement of a helicopter route in the approach path of Reagan National Airport's secondary runway without regularly reviewing it as a key factor causing the crash, along with air traffic controllers' over reliance on asking pilots to avoid other aircraft.

Why it matters

The deadly crash highlighted systemic issues within the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies, with repeated warnings about the risks related to helicopter traffic around the airport going unheeded for years. The tragedy has raised questions about the FAA's ability to address safety concerns and implement necessary changes to prevent such accidents in the future.

The details

NTSB investigators emphasized the history of missed opportunities to address the risks related to helicopter traffic, noting that the FAA had refused to add detailed information about helicopter routes to pilots' charts and wouldn't change the helicopter route even after a near miss in 2013. The investigation also found that the Army and FAA weren't sharing all safety data with each other before the crash, and that Army helicopter pilots often weren't even aware when they were involved in a near-miss around Reagan National Airport.

  • The deadly midair collision occurred a year ago near Washington, D.C.
  • In 2013, there was a near miss incident involving a helicopter and plane at the airport.

The players

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

The independent federal agency responsible for investigating civil transportation accidents in the United States.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The agency of the United States Department of Transportation responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

U.S. Army

The military branch that operates the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision.

Todd Inman

NTSB board member who expressed remorse to the victims' families.

Jennifer Homendy

NTSB chairwoman who criticized the FAA's failure to address safety concerns.

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What they’re saying

“I'm sorry for you, as these pages of these reports are written in your family members' blood. I'm sorry that we have to be here.”

— Todd Inman, NTSB board member (NTSB hearing)

“The negligence of not fixing things that needed to be fixed killed my brother and 66 other people. So I'm not very happy.”

— Kristen Miller-Zahn, Victim's family member (NTSB hearing)

“It was just a shocking dereliction of duty by the FAA. And they have so much work to be done to fix it. And just from my background, I don't know if the people there are up to it.”

— Mary Schiavo, Former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General (NTSB hearing)

What’s next

The NTSB has endorsed a bill that would require aircraft to have advanced locator systems to help avoid collisions. The senators who introduced the bill believe it would address many of the concerns raised by the NTSB over the past year. The FAA has also announced plans to reorganize the agency and create a single safety office to better track and address safety issues.

The takeaway

This tragic accident highlights the critical need for the FAA and other agencies to prioritize aviation safety and heed repeated warnings about potential risks. The failure to address systemic problems and implement necessary changes has had devastating consequences, underscoring the importance of swift and decisive action to prevent such disasters from occurring in the future.