Black Hawk Helicopter Crew May Have Missed Air Traffic Instructions Before Fatal Collision

The investigation into the devastating midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet over Washington, D.C., on January 29th, has revealed a potential communication breakdown that may have contributed to the tragedy. All 67 individuals aboard both aircraft perished in the crash, which sent shockwaves across the nation.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated that a recording from the helicopter cockpit suggests the crew might have missed a crucial instruction from an air traffic controller just before the collision. Seventeen seconds prior to the impact, the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport directed the helicopter to pass behind the airliner. This transmission was audible on both aircraft's cockpit voice recorders.

Communication Breakdown?

According to Homendy, the Black Hawk crew may have never heard the words "pass behind the" during the controller's transmission because the helicopter's microphone key was depressed at that precise moment. The mic key remained engaged for 0.8 seconds, potentially disrupting the crucial instruction.

The collision likely occurred at an altitude of approximately 325 feet, placing the Black Hawk above its 200-foot limit for that location. Investigators have also identified conflicting altitude data in cockpit conversations a few minutes before the crash. The helicopter's pilot reported being at 300 feet, while the instructor pilot stated they were at 400 feet. Homendy explained that the discrepancy remains unexplained.

Check Flight and Night Vision Goggles

The helicopter was on a check flight that night, with the pilot undergoing testing on the use of night vision goggles and instrument flying. Investigators believe the crew was wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight. This incident marks the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since 2001, when a jet crashed into a New York City neighborhood shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of all 260 people on board and five more on the ground.

Ongoing Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board anticipates that it will take over a year to complete the final report on last month's collision. Homendy cautioned reporters that numerous issues are still under investigation, emphasizing the complexity of the probe. With only a couple of weeks having passed since the crash, investigators have much work ahead to determine the definitive cause of this tragic event.