The collision between a passenger airliner and a Black Hawk military helicopter in Washington in January occurred due to several factors, including crew errors, technical failures, and communication shortcomings with air traffic control, according to an investigation by The New York Times.
The newspaper, based on interviews with over 50 aviation experts and documents, concluded that the causes of the crash were more complex than initially thought. According to the report, the Black Hawk helicopter was flying too high and did not receive timely warning about the approaching aircraft. The helicopter’s pilot failed to follow the co-pilot’s instruction to change course in the final seconds before the collision. Additionally, a radio communication failure and the disconnection of the transponder made it difficult to track the helicopter’s location.
Moreover, the air traffic controller directed the helicopter to a rarely used runway, which created a narrow vertical space for maneuvering, contributing to the crash. The failure to follow the co-pilot’s instructions and the incorrect route choice resulted in the helicopter’s inability to avoid the collision with the passenger airliner.
The tragedy occurred on January 29, when a regional passenger plane, Bombardier CRJ700, operated by American Airlines, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching for landing at Ronald Reagan Airport. There were 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board the airplane, and 3 people aboard the helicopter. All of them died. This became the largest aviation disaster in the United States in the past 15 years.
The final report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to be released in early 2026.
