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 NTSB identified several probable causes for the 2025 midair collision near KDCA, including a helicopter route too close to the runway approach, errors in Black Hawk altimeters, and high air traffic controller (ATC) workloads and reduced situational awareness.
Contributing factors highlighted were the ATC's failure to issue a timely safety alert and the absence of advanced collision avoidance technology (ADS-B In) on the commercial jet that could have provided earlier warnings.
Following the accident, the FAA implemented safety measures such as restricting helicopter traffic, removing the problematic route, reducing airport arrival rates, and increasing control tower staffing.

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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.