During a tense second day of hearings into January’s fatal midair collision near Reagan National Airport, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy sharply criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for failing to act on multiple warning signs. The crash, which killed 67 people, occurred when a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, as it descended to land in Washington, D.C.
Homendy condemned the FAA’s failure to address known safety risks, telling officials, “Are you kidding me? 67 people are dead. How do you explain that? Fix it. Do better.” Her remarks came after investigators revealed a cascade of avoidable errors, including flawed communication, outdated technology, and cultural lapses within military aviation operations.
Audio from the control tower showed that an air traffic controller attempted to direct the Blackhawk away from the commercial aircraft. But because the helicopter’s microphone was activated simultaneously, the crew never heard the warning. Moments later, both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.
The hearing also revealed a troubling series of systemic failures. The Army admitted that altimeters used in its helicopters were routinely inaccurate, reading 80 to 130 feet lower than actual altitude. Transcripts from the Blackhawk’s voice recorder indicated the crew discussed changing course seconds before impact. The instructor gave a final command—“come left for me, ma’am”—just one second before the recorder captured the crash.
Adding to the concern, the Army acknowledged that its helicopters regularly flew below commercial traffic approaching Reagan National. NTSB investigators suggested this reflects a broader cultural problem within Army aviation. Homendy said the signs were ignored or unrecognized, calling the situation “tragic.”
The hearings also spotlighted long-standing problems at the FAA. Despite receiving $12.5 billion from Congress to modernize infrastructure, the agency is still plagued by outdated software and persistent staffing shortages. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy likened current FAA systems to “a Windows 95 version” of air traffic control.
One air traffic controller was reportedly responsible for both helicopter and commercial flight communications at the time of the crash. Because pilots could not hear transmissions to other aircraft, crucial situational awareness was lost.
Families of the victims, some of whom attended the hearings, watched an 11-minute animated recreation of the crash in silence. Doug Lane, who lost his wife and daughter, said the NTSB’s transparency was a small but meaningful step toward accountability.
As the NTSB continues its probe, Chair Homendy’s message was clear: the FAA must take ownership and ensure the safety systems governing U.S. airspace do not fail again.
