Night vision goggles may have hampered Black Hawk pilots before DCA midair collision

Published in Automotive and Transportation on Sunday, August 3rd 2025 at 0:11 GMT by Local 12 WKRC Cincinnati
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Friday was the third and final day of the National Transportation Safety Board's public hearing into the deadly midair collision near DCA.

NTSB Concludes Three-Day Hearing on Near-Miss Incident at Reagan National Airport Involving Army Helicopter and Passenger Jet

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) wrapped up its intensive three-day investigative hearing on Wednesday, focusing on a harrowing near-miss incident that occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. The event, which unfolded on a clear day in late 2023, involved a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial passenger jet, raising serious questions about air traffic control protocols, military-civilian aviation coordination, and overall safety measures in one of the nation's busiest airspace corridors. The hearing, held in the NTSB's Washington headquarters, brought together experts, witnesses, and officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Army, and air traffic control teams to dissect the sequence of events, identify root causes, and propose preventive recommendations. This final day emphasized FAA testimony, regulatory oversights, and the broader implications for aviation safety in restricted airspace.

The incident in question took place on November 15, 2023, when an American Airlines Boeing 737, carrying over 100 passengers and crew, was cleared for takeoff from Runway 1 at DCA. Simultaneously, a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, operated by the 12th Aviation Battalion based at nearby Davison Army Airfield, was conducting routine training maneuvers in the vicinity. According to preliminary NTSB reports presented during the hearing, the helicopter was hovering at approximately 200 feet above ground level, directly in the path of the departing jet. Air traffic controllers at DCA's tower issued a takeoff clearance to the jet without fully accounting for the helicopter's position, leading to a situation where the two aircraft came within an estimated 300 feet of each other—far below the minimum separation standards mandated by FAA regulations.

Witnesses and experts testified that the jet's pilots, upon spotting the helicopter during their takeoff roll, initiated an emergency abort procedure. The aircraft, accelerating to over 100 knots, managed to stop safely on the runway, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic collision. Passengers on board described feeling intense vibrations and hearing alarms in the cabin, while the helicopter crew reported being unaware of the impending danger until the last moment. NTSB investigators highlighted that the Black Hawk was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in Class B airspace, which requires strict coordination with air traffic control, but communication breakdowns exacerbated the risk.

Day three of the hearing delved deeply into FAA testimony, with senior officials from the agency's Air Traffic Organization taking the stand. FAA representatives acknowledged procedural lapses, including inadequate real-time monitoring of military aircraft in the DCA area. One key revelation was the reliance on outdated communication protocols between civilian controllers and military operators. For instance, the Army helicopter was part of a scheduled training exercise, but its exact positioning wasn't dynamically updated in the tower's radar systems. An FAA air traffic manager testified that controllers are trained to handle high-traffic volumes at DCA, which sees over 1,000 operations daily, but the integration of military flights adds complexity due to the airport's proximity to sensitive government sites like the Pentagon and the White House.

The hearing also explored the role of technology in preventing such incidents. NTSB board members questioned why advanced systems like the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), which provides real-time aircraft positioning, weren't fully leveraged in this scenario. It emerged that while the commercial jet was equipped with ADS-B, the military helicopter's transponder was not actively broadcasting in a way that triggered immediate alerts in the control tower. Experts from the aviation safety community, including representatives from the Air Line Pilots Association, argued for mandatory ADS-B equipage on all aircraft operating near major airports, regardless of military status. They pointed out that exemptions for certain military operations, justified by national security concerns, can create blind spots in an otherwise robust safety net.

Testimony from the Army pilots involved painted a picture of routine operations turning perilous due to miscommunication. The Black Hawk crew explained that they were cleared for a low-altitude hover in a designated training area, but shifting winds and the jet's takeoff path converged unexpectedly. They emphasized the challenges of operating in the Washington Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA), a highly restricted zone requiring special authorizations. NTSB investigators probed whether the Army's training protocols sufficiently emphasize collision avoidance in shared airspace, revealing that while pilots undergo rigorous simulations, real-world coordination with civilian traffic often relies on verbal confirmations rather than automated systems.

Broader regulatory discussions dominated the afternoon sessions. FAA officials outlined ongoing efforts to enhance interagency cooperation, including joint exercises between military and civilian controllers. However, critics at the hearing, including independent aviation consultants, argued that regulations governing military flights in civilian airspace are outdated, dating back to post-9/11 reforms that prioritized security over seamless integration. One consultant testified that similar near-misses have occurred at other airports with military presence, such as Joint Base Andrews, underscoring a systemic issue rather than an isolated event.

The NTSB's probing questions extended to human factors, with experts analyzing controller workload and fatigue. The DCA tower, handling a mix of commercial, general aviation, and military traffic, operates under high stress, especially during peak hours. Testimony revealed that the controller who cleared the jet for takeoff was managing multiple aircraft simultaneously and may have overlooked a radar blip indicating the helicopter's position. This led to discussions on implementing artificial intelligence-assisted tools to augment human decision-making, such as predictive conflict alerts that could flag potential collisions seconds earlier.

Implications for passenger safety were a recurring theme. Representatives from passenger advocacy groups testified about the psychological impact on travelers, noting that incidents like this erode public confidence in air travel. They called for transparent reporting of near-misses and stricter penalties for procedural violations. The hearing also touched on environmental factors, such as the clear visibility on the day of the incident, which ironically contributed to the pilots' ability to visually detect the threat in time, but highlighted the dangers of over-reliance on visual cues in busy airspace.

As the hearing concluded, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy summarized the key takeaways, emphasizing that while no lives were lost, the incident exposed vulnerabilities in a system designed to prevent exactly such occurrences. She announced that a full investigative report, including probable cause determinations and safety recommendations, would be issued within the next 12-18 months. Recommendations are likely to include enhanced training for controllers on military-civilian interactions, mandatory technology upgrades for all aircraft in Class B airspace, and revised FAA guidelines for hover operations near active runways.

This near-miss at Reagan National serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between national defense needs and commercial aviation demands in the nation's capital. With DCA's unique position—sandwiched between restricted airspace and urban density—the incident underscores the need for proactive reforms. Aviation stakeholders, from pilots to regulators, left the hearing with a renewed commitment to collaboration, aiming to ensure that such close calls remain anomalies rather than precursors to tragedy. The testimony over the three days painted a comprehensive picture of an aviation ecosystem under strain, but one with the potential for significant improvements through targeted interventions.

In reflecting on the event, experts noted parallels to past incidents, such as the 2015 near-collision at DCA involving a drone, which prompted FAA drone regulations. Similarly, this hearing could catalyze changes in military aviation protocols, potentially influencing operations nationwide. The Army, for its part, has already implemented interim measures, including revised hover guidelines and enhanced communication checklists for flights near civilian airports. FAA officials pledged to review tower staffing models to better accommodate mixed-use airspace.

Ultimately, the NTSB hearing illuminated not just the specifics of one alarming event, but the broader challenges of modern aviation safety. As air traffic volumes continue to rebound post-pandemic, ensuring seamless coordination between diverse aircraft types will be paramount. Passengers, pilots, and controllers alike can take solace in the thorough scrutiny applied here, which promises to fortify safeguards against future risks in the skies above Washington, D.C., and beyond.

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Read the Full Local 12 WKRC Cincinnati Article at:
[ https://local12.com/news/nation-world/ntsb-hearing-day-3-final-day-dc-midair-collision-reagan-national-army-helicopter-faa-testimony-air-traffic-control-aviation-safety-military-aircraft-black-hawk-crash-passenger-plane-transportation-investigation-regulations-federal ]

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