DC Crash Update: Helicopter Crew May Not Have Heard Crucial Instructions

Investigators said Friday that the Army helicopter crew involved in the midair collision with an American Airlines jet near Ronald Reagan National Airport may not have heard air traffic control instructions to pass behind the plane.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated that a recording from the Black Hawk helicopter cockpit suggests the crew missed a crucial directive just before the January 29 crash, which resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

Why It Matters

The January collision was the deadliest U.S. plane crash since 2001, when a jet crashed into a New York City neighborhood shortly after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five more on the ground.

Recent airplane incidents and near misses across the country have raised concerns about safety protocols. After last week's crash, President Donald Trump held a news conference where he blamed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

When pressed by reporters, the president could not back up those claims. A few days later, Trump placed the blame on what he called an "obsolete" air traffic control system.

Key Findings From NTSB

Preliminary findings indicate that the helicopter's crew may not have received crucial instruction due to an issue with their communication system. Investigators believe the Black Hawk's microphone key was depressed at the exact moment the directive was given, possibly preventing the crew from hearing it.

"The Black Hawk crew never heard the words 'pass behind the' during the transmission from the controller," Homendy said Friday.

The helicopter was on a check flight at the time, testing the pilot's ability to use night vision goggles and fly by instruments. Investigators believe the crew wore night vision goggles throughout the flight.

Adding to the confusion, the helicopter's pilot reported an altitude of 300 feet at one point, while the instructor pilot said they were at 400 feet. The reason for this discrepancy remains unclear.

The crash killed 67 people. The Army identified the Black Hawk crew as Captain Rebecca M. Lobach of Durham, North Carolina; Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O'Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland. O'Hara was the crew chief, while Eaves and Lobach were the pilots.

Several passengers on the jet were members of the Skating Club of Boston, returning from a development camp for elite junior skaters held after the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.

What People Are Saying

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, on February 7: "The reason for turning it off does not seem justified. And in this instance, this was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on X, formerly Twitter, on January 29: "What happened today should never have happened. I want the families of the victims to know that they have my word: I will not rest until you have the truth. I will find answers to how this happened."

What Happens Next

Investigators are analyzing data from both aircraft's cockpit voice recorders (CVR) and flight data recorders (FDR) to reconstruct the moments leading up to the crash. However, the Black Hawk's recorder lacked time stamps, complicating efforts to align events with the plane's data.

The NTSB's full report could take over a year, but officials may issue urgent safety recommendations sooner if necessary.

Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.

Update 02/14/25 4:34 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.