Midair Collision Near Washington D.C. Kills 67 in Deadliest U.S. Aviation Disaster in Decades
Executive Summary
A tragic midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board both aircraft. The crash, which occurred on Wednesday evening over the Potomac River, marks the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001.
Federal authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are investigating the incident, with initial reports suggesting the military helicopter may have been flying above its permitted altitude. The air traffic control staffing at the time is also under scrutiny, as reports indicate key responsibilities were consolidated earlier than usual. President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Virginia lawmakers have expressed condolences while calling for a full investigation into the cause of the collision.
Analysis
The collision happened in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the world, just three miles south of the White House. The American Airlines CRJ-700 jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was on approach from Wichita, Kansas, while the Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers on board. Air traffic control logs indicate that just before impact, the helicopter crew had requested “visual separation,” which allowed it to fly closer to the passenger jet.
Investigators are particularly focused on the altitude of the Black Hawk, as flight data suggests it was flying at approximately 400 feet—well above the 200-foot limit set for military helicopters in that airspace. Aviation experts have questioned why the experienced military pilots were flying higher than permitted, a decision that may have placed them in the direct path of the approaching jetliner.
This incident follows a near miss just a day earlier at Reagan National Airport, where a Republic Airways flight had to abort its landing due to another military helicopter in its flight path. That flight was able to circle back and land safely, but it raises concerns about coordination between military and commercial air traffic near D.C.
President Trump, who recently appointed Christopher Rocheleau as the acting commissioner of the FAA, has linked the crash to declining safety standards in aviation, citing what he called “dangerous diversity hiring policies.” His remarks have drawn criticism for politicizing the tragedy before the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, the FAA’s long-standing issues with air traffic controller shortages are under renewed scrutiny, with questions about whether consolidating controller duties at night contributed to the disaster.
In the wake of the crash, flights at Reagan National were suspended for several hours, and recovery efforts have been ongoing in the Potomac River. Investigators have retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from both aircraft, which are expected to provide crucial insights into the moments leading up to the crash.
