A devastating midair collision took place over Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The incident involved an American Airlines passenger aircraft and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and occurred in close proximity to Reagan National Airport. Both aircraft then plunged into the Potomac River.
The crash, which resulted in the deaths of sixty-seven people, sparked urgent investigations into possible airspace violations, last-minute flight adjustments, and air traffic control procedures leading up to the disaster.
A Sudden Change in Pitch
In the final moments before the catastrophic midair collision, flight tracking data revealed unusual maneuvers from both aircraft involved.
According to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the American Airlines regional jet appeared to adjust its rotation around its side-to-side axis just before the incident.
“At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch,” said Todd Inman, an NTSB board member, at a press conference.
Investigators began scrutinizing the plane’s flight recorder and transcribing audio from the cockpit voice recorder to determine what led to the change.
A Shift in Altitude and Path
During the investigations, experts determined that the Black Hawk helicopter may have been flying above its permitted altitude. FAA regulations specify that helicopters in Washington’s restricted airspace must remain below 200 feet above sea level.
Flight tracking data shows the helicopter at 200 feet over East Potomac Park before ascending to 300 feet over the river. It remained at that altitude until seconds before the crash when it abruptly descended.
Flight tracking information also suggests that the Black Hawk helicopter deviated from its usual flight path. Instead of adhering to the standard route along the eastern bank of the Potomac River, the aircraft’s trajectory indicated a turn toward the river’s center.
Meanwhile, specific air traffic controllers were charged with monitoring both the passenger jet and the helicopter. However, internal FAA reports reviewed by The New York Times revealed that staffing levels were not optimal on the night of the crash. The responsibility for managing both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft traffic fell to one single air traffic controller. Typically, these duties are divided between two separate people.
