It was a cold Wednesday night in January when the unthinkable happened in the skies over Washington, D.C. One minute, families were looking out their windows at the glowing monuments, and the next, a fireball lit up the Potomac River.
Honestly, we don't see many mid-air collisions in modern aviation. It’s rare. But on January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 (operated by PSA Airlines) and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter occupied the same sliver of airspace at the exact same time. Sixty-seven lives were lost in an instant.
Fast forward to today, January 18, 2026. We are just days away from a massive update. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has scheduled a public board meeting for January 27, 2026, to finally determine the "probable cause" of this tragedy. If you've been following the dc plane crash, you know the tension has been building for a year.
The Night the DC Plane Crash Changed Everything
The details are still chilling. The American Airlines regional jet was carrying 64 people, including a large group from the figure skating community returning from a competition in Kansas. They were on their final approach to Reagan National Airport (DCA).
At the same time, a Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk was on a training mission. The crew was reportedly practicing "continuity of government" routes—basically, the paths used to evacuate high-ranking officials during an emergency.
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They collided about 300 feet above the water.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories to emerge recently involves Maxim Naumov. He’s a 24-year-old figure skater who just made the 2026 U.S. Olympic team. His parents, world-class coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were on that plane. He’s headed to Milan-Cortina now, carrying a legacy that was nearly extinguished in the Potomac.
Why Didn't the Technology Stop It?
You’d think with all the sensors on modern aircraft, this wouldn't happen. The jet had a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). It actually did give a "traffic" warning about 20 seconds before impact.
But there’s a catch.
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TCAS "Resolution Advisories"—the commands that tell a pilot to "climb" or "descend"—automatically shut off when a plane is below 900 feet. The goal is to prevent the system from accidentally driving a plane into the ground or a building while trying to dodge another aircraft. Because the jet was so low on its final approach, the pilots were essentially flying blind to the specific movements of the helicopter.
What the NTSB Investigation Found (So Far)
Investigators have spent the last year digging through "black boxes" and radar data. Some of the findings are kind of shocking.
- The "Stepped On" Radio Call: About 15 seconds before the crash, the tower told the helicopter to "pass behind" the jet. But the Black Hawk crew never heard the instruction. Why? Because someone in the helicopter pressed their own microphone button at the exact same time. In aviation, they call this being "stepped on." The crucial command was lost in a burst of static.
- Altitude Confusion: The Black Hawk was supposed to stay at or below 200 feet. Radar shows they were at 278 feet. Even weirder, the NTSB tested other helicopters in that same Army unit and found their altimeters were off by up to 130 feet. The pilots might have literally thought they were lower than they were.
- Night Vision Goggles: The Army crew was likely wearing NVGs. While great for seeing in the dark, they give you "soda straw" vision. You lose your peripheral sight. If the jet was coming from the side, they might not have seen it until it was too late.
The FAA has already faced some heat for this. Apparently, back in 2022, a working group suggested moving helicopter routes further away from the airport. They didn't do it.
The Controversy and the Aftermath
Shortly after the dc plane crash, the political fallout was immediate. There were arguments about air traffic control staffing levels and even the "obsolete" nature of the equipment at Reagan National.
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The Army has also been defensive. They claimed the altitude discrepancies were within "accepted variability." The NTSB chair, Jennifer Homendy, didn't seem too happy with that answer during the hearings last summer.
It’s a mess of technical failures, human error, and systemic oversight.
What Happens Next?
The meeting on January 27 is the big one. We expect the NTSB to issue a series of "Urgent Safety Recommendations." We're likely looking at a total overhaul of how military helicopters and commercial jets share the "Special Flight Rules Area" around D.C.
If you’re traveling through DCA anytime soon, you might notice things are a bit different. There are already more restrictions on "visual approaches" when helicopter traffic is high.
Actionable Insights for the Public:
- Follow the NTSB Webcast: On January 27, 2026, the NTSB will livestream the final cause determination. It’s the best way to get the facts without the media spin.
- Monitor FAA Rule Changes: If you live in the DMV area, keep an eye on new "noise abatement" or "flight path" changes. These aren't just for noise anymore; they are about safety buffers.
- Support for Families: Organizations like the Air Crash Victims' Families' Group often provide updates on safety legislation resulting from these tragedies.
The Potomac is quiet now, but the lessons from that night are still being written. We owe it to the 67 people on board to make sure the "probable cause" leads to actual change.