NTSB and FAA Oversight

The NTSB concluded that "deep, underlying systemic failures" led to the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines jet, citing an instrument failure that likely made the helicopter appear about 100 feet lower and a flawed, previously‑flagged helicopter route design. Investigators found FAA data showing more than 80 prior serious close calls in the Potomac corridor that went unaddressed, no evidence of required recent route reviews, and operational breakdowns—one overwhelmed controller handling both helicopter and fixed‑wing traffic who did not issue a safety alert and a supervisor who did not split positions—prompting calls for major changes to ATC procedures and FAA oversight.

The NTSB concluded that systemic failures across multiple organizations — including the FAA’s failure to recognize that a helicopter route lacked adequate separation from Reagan National’s secondary runway and its refusal to add detailed helicopter routes to pilots’ charts despite repeated warnings — contributed to the 2025 midair collision near D.C. that killed 67 people, with board members apologizing to victims’ families. Investigators said a local controller became overwhelmed as traffic rose to 10 then 12 aircraft (seven planes and five helicopters), degrading situational awareness, and the FAA last week made permanent a post‑crash change segregating helicopter and airplane operations around DCA.