The NTSB pinned blame on the FAA for the January 2025 mid-air collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a regional jet over the Potomac River. Faulty air traffic control decisions and chronic understaffing at Reagan National Airport played key roles in the crash that killed 67 people.

Investigators found that a single controller was managing both aircraft shortly before impact. The controller improperly cleared the Black Hawk to fly under visual separation, despite known visibility limitations. An automated warning system alerted the tower 26 seconds before collision — enough time to prevent the disaster had it been acted upon.

Systemic issues also contributed. The FAA had downgraded the airport’s control facility in 2018, lowering staffing standards and pay. Meanwhile, the Black Hawk’s altimeters were off by as much as 200 feet — a flaw not disclosed in training materials. Neither aircraft had active ADS-B tracking enabled, which could have averted the crash. Overloaded airspace and intersecting flight paths near busy airports compound the risks.

The NTSB has pushed for mandatory ADS-B In technology for years without success. Congress is now weighing the ROTOR Act, which would require helicopters to keep transponders on. With air traffic growing, experts warn that without broad infrastructure and regulatory changes, another preventable crash is inevitable.