‘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

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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 involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter and two commercial jets, occurring just four months after a fatal collision involving the same Army battalion that killed 67 people.
While the FAA claims the helicopter deviated from its route, the Army insists procedures were followed, deeply frustrating families of the January crash victims who believe lessons have not been learned.
Tim Lilley, father of a crash victim, is advocating for aviation safety reforms, criticizing the Army for "stonewalling" and "normalized unsafe acts," leading to the 12th Aviation Battalion suspending Pentagon flights again.

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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.