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Investigators are working to determine the cause of a deadly midair collision near Washington that left 67 people dead, as new details emerge about air traffic control staffing, helicopter altitude, and potential safety failures, local media reported on Friday.
The crash occurred Wednesday night when an American Airlines regional jet collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
Federal authorities have recovered all three black boxes from both aircraft, which are expected to provide crucial flight data, including altitude and communication records.
A report suggests that an air traffic control supervisor at Reagan National Airport combined the duties of managing helicopters and incoming flights before the collision.
The move, which occurred before 9:30 p.m. local time, allowed a controller to leave his shift early.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not commented on why the duties were combined at that time.
The FAA’s preliminary safety report found that airport staffing levels were “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.”
While combining roles is permitted under FAA regulations, it is not typically done during busy hours.
Reagan National Airport has faced long-term staffing shortages, with only 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023—well below the 30 required by FAA targets.
Questions over helicopter’s altitude
Investigators are also focusing on whether the Black Hawk was flying too high at the time of the impact.
According to publicly available flight data, the American Eagle jet was at 375 feet, while helicopters near Reagan National are generally restricted to flying below 200 feet under FAA rules.
Aviation attorney Tim Loranger stated that the passenger jet “was exactly where it was supposed to be, at the altitude that it was supposed to be.”
If official flight data confirms that the helicopter was above its permitted altitude, it could raise serious concerns about military training flights in heavily trafficked airspace.
The Black Hawk was on a routine training mission, with a seasoned instructor pilot and a co-pilot undergoing evaluation.
Investigators will examine whether the pilots received incorrect altitude readings, whether the air traffic controller gave any warnings, and whether the crew had logged sufficient recent flight hours.
Victims identified as recovery continues
Authorities have recovered 41 bodies from the crash site, with only 28 identified so far.
The jet was carrying 64 passengers, all presumed dead, while three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
The US Army has identified two of the three service members killed in the crash as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39.
The third soldier’s identity has not been disclosed at the request of the family.
First responders honored the fallen soldiers in a solemn transfer ceremony Friday night at Buzzard Point in Washington.
Following the crash, the FAA has indefinitely shut down the low-altitude helicopter corridor used at the time of the collision.
The decision comes after another recent incident in which a flight had to abort its landing due to a helicopter in its path.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also reviewing whether Reagan National’s growing air traffic poses risks.
The airport was originally designed for 15 million passengers annually but now handles around 25 million.
Some officials argue that military training missions should not take place in such congested airspace.
Another open question is whether the Black Hawk pilots were using night-vision goggles at the time of the crash.
Some experts argue that while the devices are useful in dark conditions, they can be “very distracting” in brightly lit urban airspace.
Others, including veteran Black Hawk pilot Rodney Sangsland, defend their use. “I believe in them,” he said. “They’re a lifesaver.”
Next steps in investigation
As officials analyze the flight data recorders, investigators will assess whether the helicopter’s altitude was a factor and whether air traffic control decisions contributed to the crash.
The NTSB will also examine whether military flight protocols need to be adjusted in civilian airspace.
For now, the focus remains on recovering victims and supporting the families of those lost in the deadliest US air crash in nearly 25 years.
