Army Report Highlights Failures Leading Up to Fatal D.C. Collision

Branch says it will share progress as it implements NTSB recommendations.

Jack Daleo

Monday, October 12, 2026 at 02:12 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

In January 2025, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), killing 67 people. [Credit: Nicholas Priest/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Army's investigation into the January 2025 midair collision identified "breakdowns across all layers of conflict management" and "systemic failures," attributing blame to both Army protocols and the FAA/air traffic control.
Key contributing factors included "broken or 'stepped-on' radio transmissions" preventing critical ATC information from reaching the Black Hawk, an incorrectly set altimeter on the helicopter due to unresolved accuracy issues, and the helicopter's route being too close to the commercial approach path.
The Army has endorsed NTSB recommendations and is implementing changes such as revised training, addressing altimeter errors, and improving safety reporting, while debates continue over mandatory ADS-B equipage and calls for greater accountability from victims' families.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The U.S. Army’s investigative report on the January 2025 fatal midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and commercial passenger jet identified “breakdowns across all layers of conflict management” that contributed to the accident.

The report, which was conducted separately from the National Transportation Safety Board’s broader investigation, was completed in May. The families of some of the 67 people killed in the disaser—the deadliest in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) in decades—have been urging its public release.