‘No Explanation, No Reform:’ Army Receives ‘Failing’ Grade From Families of Flight 5342

Relatives of the D.C. crash victims say the FAA also needs improvement.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, May 12, 2025 at 03:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Black Hawk wreckage in the Potomac River [Credit: U.S Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles]

Key Takeaways:

The advocacy group Families of Flight 5342 issued a scathing rebuke of the U.S. Army, citing inadequate communication, lack of transparency, and absence of meaningful reform following the January 29 midair collision over Washington, D.C., which claimed 67 lives.
The group demands the Army publicly explain what went wrong, engage directly with families, and announce a concrete plan for operational and cultural safety reform, particularly amid a reported increase in serious Army aviation mishaps.
While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) received an "excellent" rating for its transparency and thorough investigation, the FAA was marked as "needs major improvement" for its lack of urgency in addressing systemic issues.

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The advocacy group Families of Flight 5342 issued a scathing rebuke of the U.S. Army last week in its latest “Government Response Scorecard,” citing inadequate communication, lack of transparency, and absence of meaningful reform following the January 29 midair collision over Washington, D.C., that claimed 67 lives.

The collision involved American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. All passengers and crew aboard both aircraft died in the crash, which occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA).