‘They Didn’t Learn:’ Former Army Pilot Calls for Change

As the DOT eyes reforms, a Black Hawk veteran says Army aviation has ‘normalized unsafe acts’ after a crash that killed 67—including his son.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, May 09, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Black Hawk helicopter over Washington [Credit: U.S. Air Force/Nicholas A. Priest]

Key Takeaways:

A recent close call between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and commercial jets near Reagan National Airport (KDCA) echoes a fatal collision four months prior involving the same Army battalion, raising recurring safety concerns.
The FAA and Army dispute the cause of the May 1st incident, while a victim's family member from the fatal January crash expresses frustration over unlearned lessons and the Army's lack of transparency.
Amid calls for change and a bipartisan push for air traffic control modernization, the Army has suspended certain Pentagon flights and restricted helicopter transport, though critics highlight a history of "normalized unsafe acts" and complacency around KDCA.

See a mistake? Contact us.

On May 1, another close call made headlines near Reagan National Airport (KDCA) in Washington, D.C. This time, the incident involved two commercial jets—a Delta Air Lines A319 and a Republic Airways E170—and a Black Hawk helicopter from the Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion.

The helicopter’s crew took a “scenic route,” the FAA claimed, deviating from its planned route to the Pentagon. This divergence prompted a controller at Reagan National to call for go-arounds of the two jets.