NTSB opens 3-day probe into American Eagle and Black Hawk deadly mid-air crash
From July 30, 2025, a three-day National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing will seek to gather further information regarding what caused a deadly mid-air collision between an American Eagle passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter earlier this year.
The two aircraft collided over the Potomac River in Washington on January 29, 2025, as the PSA Airlines-operated flight, with 64 people onboard, was just half a mile away from landing at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Within the Black Hawk helicopter were three military crew members conducting a ‘check ride’, an exam that a pilot must pass to undertake certain flight duties.
When the hearing opens on July 30, 2025, at 09:00 local time, it will be just over six months since the tragedy.
Over that time, details have emerged about the two flights that will undoubtably be examined further during the public hearing.
NTSBAmong the issues to be discussed is why there were 85 recorded incidents between October 2021 and December 2024 in which planes and helicopters came dangerously close to one another while operating in the same airspace.
Another area of contention likely to be discussed at the hearing is that, prior to the collision, the Black Hawk helicopter did not have Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) operating.
According to the NTSB, the hearing has been called to obtain “information necessary to determine the facts and circumstances” of the incident.
NTSBAlthough the investigative hearing is open to the public, only NTSB board members, investigators, witnesses and parties to the hearing are allowed to participate.
Following the hearing’s opening statements on July 30, 2025, the NTSB panel will first conduct an overview of the ‘Accidents Helicopter’s Air Data Systems and Altimeters’. This will be followed by an overview of ‘DCA Class B Airspace and Helicopter Routes’.
On day two the panel will discuss ‘Training, Guidance and Procedures Applicable to DCA Air Traffic Control’, before conducting an overview of ‘Collision Avoidance Technology’.
On the final day of the hearing, the panel will look at ‘Safety Data and Safety Managements Systems (SMSs) at the Various Organizations’.
At 09:00 on July 30, 2025, factual reports, transcripts of the cockpit voice recorders for both aircraft, photographs and other investigative materials will also be released.
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“After the hearing, the NTSB will use the information gathered to complete the investigation, determine probable cause, and make recommendations to improve transportation safety,” a spokesperson for the agency said. “The full investigation will take approximately one year to 18 months from the date of the accident to complete.”
According to the Associated Press, the FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford said that he expects there will be some “very uncomfortable conversations” during the hearing.
“They need to be had in the clear light of day – and simply put the best interest of the traveling public ahead of any of our personal interests, perhaps,” he added.
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The post NTSB opens 3-day probe into American Eagle and Black Hawk deadly mid-air crash appeared first on AeroTime.
From July 30, 2025, a three-day National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing will seek to gather further information…
The post NTSB opens 3-day probe into American Eagle and Black Hawk deadly mid-air crash appeared first on AeroTime.
