NTSB Says FAA Approved Dangerous Potomac Routes in Jan. 29, 2025 Midair Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the Federal Aviation Administration had approved dangerous flight routes that allowed an Army Black Hawk helicopter to fly into the path of an American Airlines passenger jet over the Potomac River on Jan. 29, 2025, a determination the board approved unanimously after a yearlong investigation.

The N.T.S.B. said the agency found a complacent culture in the Ronald Reagan National Airport tower that relied too heavily on pilots using visual separation to avoid each other, a practice investigators called unsafe. The board said the route the helicopter flew and the landing path of American Airlines Flight 5342 were never designed to ensure separation between aircraft and that warnings from the controller to pilots were insufficient.

Investigators also faulted the F.A.A. for ignoring repeated appeals from controllers to reduce National Airport’s traffic even as its main runway became the busiest in the United States, a condition that regularly forced diversions to a backup runway and put planes in closer proximity with helicopters.

Hannah Walden, a spokeswoman for the F.A.A., said the agency "values and appreciates the N.T.S.B’s expertise and input," had "acted immediately" on initial recommendations and "will carefully consider" additional ones the board made Tuesday.

ntsb, faa, jan. 29, 2025 crash, potomac river midair crash, army black hawk helicopter, american airlines flight 5342, ronald reagan national airport, visual separation practice, air traffic control tower culture, controller warnings insufficient, flight route approval, backup runway 33, main runway busiest united states, traffic management system unused, altimeter faulty readings, ads-b in alerting, single controller duties, instructor pilot lost sight, training flight evaluation, faa ignored warnings, safety recommendations ntsb, hannah walden statement, jennifer homendy comments, capt. van mckenny findings, brian soper remarks