WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army found systemic breakdowns behind last year’s midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk near Reagan National Airport, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press.
The January 2025 crash killed 67 people, the deadliest on U.S. soil in more than two decades. The Army has not publicly released the report but shared it with many victims’ families.
The lieutenant general who wrote it said “breakdowns across all layers of conflict management caused this accident,” with two broken radio transmissions the most important factor. The crew’s night-vision goggles also limited their view.
The report recommended studying helicopter operations in every major city where the Army flies, and an Army official said reviews in places including Los Angeles and Seattle-Tacoma are ongoing.
The Families of Flight 5342 group urged Congress to require collision-avoidance technology on aircraft. The House and Senate have passed different aviation safety bills and are still working on a compromise.
Sources: Associated Press via KTAR News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: AnonymousUnknown author / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
