On February 6, 2025, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, an American Eagle and American Airlines aircraft were seen taxiing on the runway. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the mid-air incident on January 29 involving an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter could be linked to a malfunctioning altimeter in the helicopter.

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Al Drago/Getty Images

In a recent briefing, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided updates on the tragic January 29 mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet attempting to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The incident resulted in both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River, leading to the loss of 67 lives on board.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, pointed out that the clash occurred at an altitude of 278 feet above the Potomac River, while the helicopter was required to stay below 200 feet. There are concerns over whether the helicopter’s altimeter was providing accurate altitude readings to the crew.

Homendy mentioned that investigators are analyzing conflicting data to determine the specifics of the situation. Additionally, some radio communications between the air traffic controller and the helicopter crew may not have been fully heard by the helicopter pilots.

One key transmission occurred just 17 seconds prior to the collision when the controller instructed the helicopter to “pass behind the CRJ.” However, this message might not have reached the Black Hawk because it coincided with another radio transmission from the crew, resulting in part of the communication being cut off.

The crew aboard the American Airlines regional jet reported seeing the Black Hawk moments prior to the collision. Investigators found that the plane’s pilots managed to pull the aircraft’s nose up approximately nine degrees just before impact. Meanwhile, the helicopter maintained its direction and speed right until the moment of the crash.

According to Homendy, it seems the Black Hawk crew was using night-vision goggles, which could have limited their visibility. The NTSB plans to create a detailed visual simulation to evaluate what the helicopter pilots may have perceived leading up to the collision, emphasizing the necessity of understanding their perspective during the fatal event.

A comprehensive investigation by the NTSB is anticipated to take over a year to complete.

Report by David Schaper.