Near Misses Continue in US Skies After Deadly DC Crash

Investigators warn of ongoing safety concerns a year after 67 died in collision near Washington, D.C.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:55pm

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A year after a deadly crash that killed 67 people when a commercial airplane and military helicopter collided near Washington, D.C., the National Transportation Safety Board says close calls have continued to regularly occur across the country. Investigators have found multiple systematic failures that led to the January 2025 tragedy, including the FAA ignoring warnings about the small separation between helicopter routes and runways at Reagan National Airport.

Why it matters

The January 2025 crash highlighted ongoing safety issues in US airspace, with near mid-air collisions continuing to occur at airports across the country. Families of the crash victims have been pushing for reforms to improve air traffic control systems and airspace management to prevent future tragedies.

The details

According to aviation data, there have been at least 59 near mid-air collisions between commercial airplanes and other aircraft at takeoff or landing in the nine months following the deadly January 2025 crash. Many of these near misses involved helicopters, particularly at airports in the Northeast like Washington Dulles, Philadelphia, and LaGuardia. Investigators say the helicopter routes were too close to commercial runways, with only 75 feet of vertical separation, and pilots were unaware of the potential conflicts because of inadequate information on aeronautical charts.

  • The deadly crash occurred on January 29, 2025.
  • The NTSB hearing where investigators discussed the ongoing safety issues was held on Tuesday.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Rachel Feres

Cousin of Peter Livingston, who was killed in the January 2025 crash along with his wife and two daughters.

Peter Livingston

Victim of the January 2025 crash, along with his wife Donna and their two daughters Everly and Alydia.

FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration, which investigators say ignored warnings about the safety risks of the helicopter routes near Reagan National Airport.

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What they’re saying

“Whether it is involving helicopters or not, people are raising red flags, and why aren't people listening? The FAA has to ensure safety. That is their job.”

— Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair (98online.com)

“This was eerily similar to the DCA accident and is unacceptable.”

— Unnamed pilot (98online.com)

“This event has many disturbing similarities to the recent mid-air collision in DCA.”

— Unnamed pilot (98online.com)

“I look at the work that we are doing as a love letter to our missing family members, as a love letter to our country, and as a way of saying, you know, 'We can't undo what's already happened, but we can certainly work to ensure it doesn't happen again.'”

— Rachel Feres (98online.com)

What’s next

The NTSB is pushing for a full implementation of its recommendations stemming from the investigation into the January 2025 crash, including increased funding for air traffic control systems and a full review of Reagan National Airport's complex airspace.

The takeaway

The continued occurrence of near mid-air collisions across the US, particularly involving helicopters at major airports, highlights the urgent need for the FAA to address longstanding safety issues in the nation's airspace. Families of the victims are demanding reforms to prevent future tragedies.