The U.S. Army has identified systemic safety failures that contributed to the midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., in 2025. The report, completed in May and made public on October 8, 2026, after pressure from victims' families, outlines issues related to air traffic control, helicopter routes, training, and safety practices. The collision resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals when the helicopter struck the descending airliner, causing both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River.
The report indicates that the air traffic controller at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport could have taken actions to prevent the crash but also acknowledges shortcomings within the military's operations. Tim Lilley, a former Army Black Hawk pilot and father of the airliner's first officer, expressed concerns about unanswered questions in the report, noting that some parts were redacted and accountability was not clearly assigned.
The Army stated its commitment to transparency and acknowledged the families' need for answers. The report aligns with findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which highlighted years of ignored warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a weak military safety culture.
The Army criticized the air traffic controller for not providing adequate information to the helicopter crew and failing to warn the jet's pilot. Following the incident, the FAA prohibited controllers from relying solely on pilots for visual separation in busy airspace. The report also suggests examining military helicopter operations in other major cities for similar risks.
The lieutenant general who authored the report pointed to two failed radio transmissions that hindered the helicopter crew's ability to identify the jet. The design of the helicopter route allowed only 75 feet (23 meters) of vertical separation between the helicopter and the landing plane, which did not account for potential errors in the Black Hawk's altimeter readings. The NTSB found that the helicopter was flying nearly 100 feet (30 meters) higher than indicated.
The NTSB expressed satisfaction with the Army's progress on seven out of eight safety recommendations, contrasting with the FAA's failure to implement about one-third of its recommendations. The Army has since strengthened helicopter crew training and inspected over 3,500 helicopters after discovering that the crashed Black Hawk's ADS-B Out system, which broadcasts location, had been malfunctioning.
The military is also enhancing its monitoring of safety risks and collaborating with the FAA to share information about near-misses. Families of the crash victims have stated that the Army's findings support their push for legislation requiring aircraft to be equipped with technology to help pilots detect nearby traffic. They emphasized the necessity of collision avoidance technology and urged Congress to take action, noting that both the House and Senate have passed separate aviation safety bills but have yet to finalize an agreement.