Army investigation finds multiple failures in DCA midair collision

The U.S. Army published the results of its investigation into the January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday. The crash involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional jet and killed 67 people. The inquiry was finished in May.

Investigators pointed to several safety failures spanning air traffic control communications, helicopter operations and military oversight. Two interrupted radio calls were identified as a key factor that kept the helicopter crew from getting important traffic information, the report said. It also cited inaccurate altitude readings, poor visibility through night-vision goggles and gaps in pilot training.

According to the findings, the Black Hawk's ADS-B Out equipment was set up incorrectly and had not been broadcasting the aircraft's position. The report agreed with the NTSB that the failure to hear clear radio transmissions contributed directly to the accident.

The Army also had not properly tracked near misses or worked with the FAA to spot repeated hazards around Washington, investigators found. They noted that the helicopter route could leave as little as 75 feet of vertical separation from aircraft on approach to Reagan National's secondary runway. The findings back the NTSB's conclusions, which placed failures in FAA airspace design and safety management among the main causes.

In a fact sheet, the Army said it had checked 3,585 helicopters for ADS-B configuration problems and brought in recurring inspections to confirm the equipment works. It has also broadened training on fixed-wing approach and departure paths at the airport and is working toward an agreement to share safety data with the FAA. Other changes include additional flight-data monitoring.