The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a devastating collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight at Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, resulting in an estimated 67 fatalities. The helicopter was on a training mission to prepare for evacuating government officials during emergencies when it crashed. Preliminary findings suggest the helicopter was flying at an altitude of 200 feet, which contradicts American Airlines flight data indicating it was at approximately 325 feet during the incident. This discrepancy in altitude will be a vital focus of the investigation.
As NTSB members gather more information, an initial report is expected within 30 days. Notably, the voice recorder from the Black Hawk has been retrieved, and audio analysis is ongoing to understand the moments leading up to the crash. Comments from officials, including President Trump, raised concerns about the helicopter flying above the designated altitude limit for its corridor. Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue to locate the wreckage and victims, with 42 bodies already recovered. This disaster marks the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. since 2001, highlighting ongoing issues with air traffic control staffing and safety in one of the nation’s busiest aviation corridors.