US Army finally hands over helicopter ADS-B memo to Senate crash probe

The US Army has finally handed over a memo to the Senate Commerce Committee, relating to its use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) in the National Capital Region, according to Reuters.   

On March 31, 2025, Senator Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell declared that the US Army’s refusal to hand over the memo was “completely unacceptable” as the committee was investigating the January 29, 2025, midair crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).   

According to Reuters, Senator Cruz was given the memo on April 10, 2025, having threatened to subpoena the document last week.  

The US Army passed the memo to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which in turn passed it over to Senate Commerce Committee for review. 

Reuters, which saw the document, said that the three-page memo provides information to commanders on when aircraft can operate with ADS-B turned off. 

The committee previously said that the US Army was asked to provide the memo in March 2025, and that at a subcommittee hearing on March 27, 2025, Brigadier General Matthew Braman had refused to commit to providing the document, citing an ongoing investigation.   

A US Army Black Hawk helicopter did not have ADS-B operating when it collided with an American Eagle Bombardier CRJ700 in Washington DC.   

NTSBThe ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology that provides an aircraft’s location to air traffic control and other aircraft pilots.    

Since 2019, under specific circumstances the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has permitted military aircraft to turn off their ADS-B during flights.   

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