WASHINGTON (AP) — A daylong hearing on Tuesday should make clear what factors played the biggest role in causing last January’s midair collision near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ready to recommend preventive measures. Everyone aboard an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter lost their lives when both aircraft collided and crashed into the icy Potomac River on January 29, 2025, marking it as the deadliest plane crash on U.S. soil since 2001. In response to the tragedy, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented immediate changes to prevent helicopters and airplanes from sharing the same congested airspace around the nation's capital, which were made permanent recently. However, the NTSB is expected to suggest further actions, as the victims' families urge for clarity and prompt changes. Rachel Feres, who lost several family members in the incident, expressed a wish for direct solutions to ensure safety, saying, “I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again.” The families have committed to maintaining pressure on Congress and Pentagon officials to ensure that actions are taken following the hearing. Young Alydia and Everly Livingston were among the 28 figure skating community members who tragically died in the crash after attending a national competition in Wichita. The NTSB has indicated several contributing factors, including a poorly designed helicopter flight path and the Army disabling a key system that would have improved the helicopter's visibility. While public concern over aviation safety has heightened after this tragedy, NTSB data from last year indicated a decrease in total crashes, which were at their lowest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hearing to Address Deadly January Air Collision Near Washington, D.C.
Hearing to Address Deadly January Air Collision Near Washington, D.C.
The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a hearing to investigate the causes of a tragic midair collision that killed 67 individuals, including a community of figure skaters.
A hearing is set to uncover the root causes behind the horrific January 2025 midair collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that caused 67 deaths. Families of victims are hopeful for meaningful changes to prevent future occurrences as the NTSB prepares to make recommendations. The event highlighted significant safety oversights, including ignored FAA warnings and design flaws in flight paths near Washington D.C.
