NTSB Blames Deep FAA and ATC Systemic Failures for 2025 DCA Midair Collision That Killed 67
The NTSB concluded that "deep, underlying systemic failures" across the FAA and air‑traffic control led to the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines jet that killed 67. Investigators cited an instrument failure on the Black Hawk that likely made crews think they were about 100 feet lower, FAA data showing more than 80 prior close calls in the Potomac corridor that went unaddressed, an overwhelmed controller who did not issue a safety alert, and supervisors who failed to split positions despite workload complaints — findings the board publicly illustrated with a reconstruction animation.
📌 Key Facts
- NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport was caused by "deep, underlying systemic failures" and described it as "one failure after another," framing the crash as a breakdown across systems and agencies rather than a single-controller or pilot error.
- Investigators found an instrument failure on the Army Black Hawk that likely led its pilots to believe they were flying roughly 100 feet lower than they actually were.
- The NTSB identified more than 80 prior serious close calls between helicopters and passenger aircraft in the same airspace in FAA data, and concluded the FAA failed to act on that pattern.
- The FAA was required to evaluate helicopter routes annually but produced no evidence of a recent review of the Potomac River corridor where the collision occurred.
- The board concluded a single overwhelmed controller was handling both helicopter and fixed‑wing traffic and failed to issue a safety alert, and a supervisor did not split the positions despite earlier complaints about workload.
- At a public NTSB hearing, federal investigators publicly walked through the sequence of events and released a reconstruction animation that visually shows the lead‑up to the collision.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 28, 2026
12:12 AM
NTSB blames 'deep' systemic failures for deadly midair collision near Washington D.C.
New information:
- NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy explicitly described the crash as caused by 'deep, underlying systemic failures' and said it was 'one failure after another.'
- Investigators found an instrument failure on the Army Black Hawk that likely led pilots to believe they were flying 100 feet lower than they really were.
- The NTSB said FAA data contained more than 80 prior serious close calls between helicopters and passenger aircraft in the same airspace, but the agency failed to act on the pattern.
- Homendy said the FAA was supposed to evaluate helicopter routes annually but produced no evidence of having recently reviewed the Potomac River corridor where the crash occurred.
- The board concluded a single overwhelmed controller was handling both helicopter and fixed‑wing traffic and failed to issue a safety alert, while a supervisor did not split the positions despite earlier workload complaints.
12:07 AM
NTSB animation shows lead-up to deadly mid-air crash near D.C. airport
New information:
- CBS segment includes and describes an NTSB reconstruction animation that visually shows the lead‑up to the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport.
- The piece reiterates that federal investigators have now publicly walked through the sequence of events and contributing factors at the hearing.
January 27, 2026
11:54 PM
"Systemic failures" led to 2025 deadly midair crash near Washington, D.C., NTSB chair says
New information:
- CBS clip highlights the NTSB chair personally stating that 'systemic failures' caused the 2025 midair crash between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet near Washington, D.C.
- Reinforces that NTSB’s leadership is framing the accident not as a single-controller or pilot error but as a broader breakdown across systems and agencies.