Investigators are exploring potential miscommunication and equipment malfunctions as contributing factors in the January 29th midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport. The crash, which occurred over the Potomac River during an Army flight check, tragically claimed the lives of all 67 individuals on board.

Emergency responders recovering debris from the Potomac River. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy, crucial instructions from air traffic control, transmitted mere seconds before the impact, might have been missed by the Black Hawk crew. A simultaneous transmission from the helicopter, lasting 0.8 seconds, potentially interfered with the incoming message instructing the Black Hawk to "pass behind" the passenger plane.

Furthermore, while the Black Hawk was operating above the designated altitude at 278 feet according to radio altitude, the barometric altimeters within the cockpit may have displayed a different reading. The NTSB is investigating potential discrepancies in the altitude data. The helicopter’s automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) system, designed to prevent conflicts by calculating aircraft spacing and separation, was reportedly not transmitting during the flight. The NTSB is examining the equipment, programming, and the possibility of a malfunction or intentional deactivation.

Wreckage recovery efforts in the Potomac River. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)

The investigation also considers visibility challenges. The Black Hawk crew’s likely use of night-vision goggles throughout the flight could have impacted their visual perception in the dark near the brightly lit airport environment. Cockpit voice recorder data reveals no audible reaction from the crew before the crash, suggesting they were unaware of the imminent collision.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy addressing the media. (Pool)