On January 29, a tragic collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Washington, D.C., resulted in 67 fatalities, marking the deadliest air disaster in the U.S. in over two decades. During a recent hearing, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy condemned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for failing to heed prior air traffic control warnings advocating for flight path adjustments to mitigate risks. Homendy criticized the FAA for high staff turnover at the control tower, suggesting that such instability hindered safety oversight.
In 2022, an FAA working group recommended mitigating helicopter traffic around Reagan National Airport by establishing airborne “hot spots.” This proposal was dismissed as “too political,” as highlighted by Senator Maria Cantwell’s critical remarks questioning the FAA’s oversight failures.
The hearing also addressed issues with faulty altitude data in Army helicopters, particularly the Black Hawk involved in the collision. Testing revealed discrepancies in altitude readings between 80 to 130 feet from actual altitudes, raising concerns about safety during critical operations. NTSB board member Todd Inman urged more proactive measures by the Army to address these discrepancies and enhance pilot awareness.
The incident’s audio recordings indicated communications from air traffic controllers instructing the American Airlines jet to switch runways shortly before the crash. Investigators found that the helicopter was operating at approximately 300 feet, exceeding the maximum altitude limit of 200 feet for that area. In light of these findings, the FAA has restricted helicopter flights, citing the intolerable risk they pose to civilian aircraft. The FAA had recently signed a new agreement with the Army regarding flight operations, but helicopter flights remain on hold.
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