NTSB: Black Hawk Involved in D.C. Midair May Have Been Flying Too High

Control tower data shows the U.S. Army helicopter was flying at an altitude around 300 feet despite restrictions limiting it to no higher than 200 feet.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, February 05, 2025 at 12:55 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

A U.S. Army Black Hawk flies over Washington, D.C. [Credit: Nicholas Priest/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's initial investigation suggests the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in a fatal midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was flying higher than its authorized 200-foot altitude limit on Route 4.
Air traffic control data indicates the Black Hawk was flying at approximately 300 feet when it collided with American Eagle Flight 5342, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.
An expert suggests that separate radio frequencies for helicopter and jet operations in D.C. airspace could have contributed to the passenger jet crew's unawareness of the Black Hawk's presence.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday revealed that the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in a fatal midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) last week may have been flying higher than authorized.

In an investigative update, the NTSB said data from the airport’s air traffic control tower display showed that the Black Hawk was flying at about 300 feet when it collided with a Bombardier CRJ-700 operating American Eagle Flight 5342, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. The data is rounded to the nearest 100 feet, meaning the helicopter may have been as high as 350 feet or as low as 251 feet at the time of the crash.