A recently released investigation has revealed that a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot neglected to make a critical course correction moments before colliding with a commercial airliner over Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of 67 people.
On January 29, 2025, a routine flight evaluation near Reagan National Airport resulted in a collision. The Black Hawk, piloted by Capt. Rebecca Lobach, collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 after Lobach failed to comply with an urgent directive from her flight instructor, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, who recommended a left turn to escape the approaching jet.
The helicopter’s operation above its authorized altitude and communication breaches with air traffic control were among the numerous contributing factors discovered by the investigators. Night vision spectacles were also worn by the pilot, which may have restricted visibility during the critical moments preceding the collision. The Black Hawk’s monitoring system had been disabled, as is customary during simulated mission training, further complicating the situation.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently conducting an investigation into the accident, and a comprehensive final report is anticipated to be released in the early part of the following year. The tragedy has reignited a debate regarding the safety protocols that are intended to prevent catastrophic incidents and military flight operations in civilian airspace.