NTSB Cites Multiple Factors Behind Washington Midair Collision

Agency’s final report expected within two weeks.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 01:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

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

Key Takeaways:

The 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) was primarily attributed to a helicopter route's close proximity to the runway approach, unaddressed errors in Black Hawk altimeters, and high air traffic controller (ATC) workloads.
Contributing factors included the ATC's failure to provide timely safety alerts despite TCAS warnings, Black Hawk altimeter discrepancies causing the helicopter to fly at an incorrect altitude, and overall congested airspace.
The NTSB highlighted the absence of ADS-B In technology on the commercial jet, which could have provided pilots with crucial warning time, and the FAA has since responded by restricting helicopter routes, removing Route 4, and increasing ATC staffing at KDCA.

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The placement of a helicopter route in close proximity to the runway approach path at a busy commercial airport, a lack of warning to U.S. Army aviators about errors in the barometric altimeters in Black Hawk helicopters, and air traffic controller (ATC) workloads were all mentioned this week as probable causes behind the deadly midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) in 2025.

On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) heard hours of testimony regarding the collision between an Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342.