‘They Didn’t Learn:’ Former Army Pilot Calls for Change

As the DOT eyes reforms, a Black Hawk veteran says Army aviation has ‘normalized unsafe acts’ after a crash that killed 67—including his son.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, May 09, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Black Hawk helicopter over Washington [Credit: U.S. Air Force/Nicholas A. Priest]

Key Takeaways:

A recent close call near Reagan National Airport (KDCA) involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter causing two commercial jets to initiate go-arounds, raising new safety concerns.
This incident followed a fatal collision just four months prior at KDCA, where another Black Hawk from the same Army battalion killed 67 people, leading many to feel lessons haven't been learned.
Tim Lilley, whose son was killed in the January crash, is a vocal advocate for aviation safety reforms, criticizing the Army's perceived lack of transparency and actions.
The Army's 12th Aviation Battalion has again suspended flights to the Pentagon, facing accusations of "normalizing unsafe acts" and complacency in a high-traffic area, amidst calls for air traffic control modernization.

See a mistake? Contact us.

On May 1, another close call made headlines near Reagan National Airport (KDCA) in Washington, D.C. This time, the incident involved two commercial jets—a Delta Air Lines A319 and a Republic Airways E170—and a Black Hawk helicopter from the Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion.

The helicopter’s crew took a “scenic route,” the FAA claimed, deviating from its planned route to the Pentagon. This divergence prompted a controller at Reagan National to call for go-arounds of the two jets.