‘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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Ryan Ewing

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

Key Takeaways:

Families of Flight 5342 severely criticized the U.S. Army for its inadequate communication, lack of transparency, and failure to implement meaningful reforms after the D.C. midair collision that claimed 67 lives.
The group demands the Army publicly explain the incident, directly engage with affected families, and announce a concrete plan for operational and cultural safety reforms.
This rebuke comes amid a significant rise in Army aviation mishaps, with 15 Class A incidents in fiscal year 2024—the highest in a decade—underscoring systemic safety concerns.
While the NTSB received praise for its transparency and 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).