Report: Pilot of Black Hawk in Fatal Collision Failed to Heed Instructions

Army helicopter pilot involved in a deadly January crash may not have changed course as directed.

Jack Daleo

Monday, April 28, 2025 at 04:22 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

Pilot error may be among the factors that caused a collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and commercial passenger jet in January, per a New York Times report. [Courtesy: Nicholas Priest/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The fatal mid-air collision involved multiple contributing factors, including the Black Hawk pilot's failure to execute a directed turn, the helicopter operating above its permitted altitude, and confusion in the cockpit.
Air traffic control also bore responsibility, having granted visual separation without adequate monitoring, operating under abnormal staffing conditions, and facing difficulties tracking the Black Hawk due to its disabled ADS-B Out system.
The investigation highlighted systemic safety issues at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), including a history of close calls, inadequate vertical separation in congested airspace, and frequent helicopter altitude infringements.
In response, the FAA has implemented immediate actions, such as eliminating the problematic helicopter route, barring nonessential helicopter operations at KDCA, limiting visual separation, and mandating ADS-B Out for aircraft in KDCA Class B airspace.

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Pilot error may have played a role in the January collision between a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and Bombardier CRJ-700 jet operating American Eagle Flight 5342, which killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

According to a New York Times report, Captain Rebecca Lobach—who was piloting the Black Hawk for an annual evaluation flight in the airspace near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA)—failed to heed a directive from her instructor. It is unclear why Lobach did not turn left as instructed, which would have increased separation between the two aircraft.