The NTSB will convene a hearing on January 27 to determine the probable cause of a January 2025 midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk that killed 67 people. The Department of Justice has found the federal government liable, and investigators say the helicopter was flying above published maximum altitude limits. In response, the FAA restricted helicopter operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and later barred Army flights around the Pentagon after a related near‑miss.
NTSB Sets Jan. 27 Hearing to Determine Cause of Deadly Washington Air Collision
A person wears images on their neck as relatives of victims attend a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigative hearing on the January 29 mid-air collision of an Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, at NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 30, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a hearing on January 27 to determine the probable cause of a fatal midair collision in January 2025 between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice found the federal government liable for the crash. Investigators say the Army Black Hawk was flying above published maximum altitude limits at the time of the collision.
Regulatory Response
In March, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed new restrictions on helicopter operations after the NTSB warned that helicopter traffic posed an "intolerable risk" to civilian aircraft near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The FAA later barred Army helicopter flights in the immediate vicinity of the Pentagon following a near-miss that forced two civilian airliners to abort landings.
What to Expect From the Hearing
The NTSB hearing will review flight data, air-traffic-control communications and operational policies to identify causal factors and recommend safety measures. Family members of victims, federal agencies and industry representatives may testify as investigators seek changes to prevent similar tragedies.
Reporting: David Shepardson in Washington. Editing: Nia Williams.
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