On January 29, 2025, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet collided in midair over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
All 67 people on both aircraft were killed, making it the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than 20 years.
This tragedy wasn’t caused by just one mistake.
It was a series of missteps — human errors, air traffic control confusion, and a risky airspace setup that’s been a ticking time bomb for years.
REPORT: The female pilot flying the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight, made multiple mistakes and ignored a warning from her co-pilot, according to the New York Times.
Tragic.
The New York Times reports that there were multiple mistakes made… pic.twitter.com/duetUVd16J
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 27, 2025
What Happened?
That night, Captain Rebecca Lobach, 28 years old, was piloting the Black Hawk helicopter.
She was taking an annual night flying test called a “checkride,” something pilots have to do to stay certified.
Flying with her was Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, the instructor.
At the same time, American Airlines Flight 5342, a CRJ-700 jet, was descending into Reagan National. Normally, helicopters are supposed to stay below 200 feet over the river.
But Lobach’s Black Hawk was flying higher — around 278 to 300 feet — putting it right into the path of the oncoming jet.
Two minutes before the crash, air traffic control told the Black Hawk crew to “pass behind” the jet.
The crew said they saw an aircraft and agreed to keep clear.
But somewhere along the way, something went wrong. Either the message got garbled on the radio, or the crew mistook another distant light for the jet.
A second before impact, the jet’s pilots tried to pull up — but it was too late.
The two aircraft collided at about 300 feet above the river. Both crashed into the water, and tragically, no one survived.
What Caused It?
There’s no single villain here — but several big problems played a part.
- Pilot Mistakes: Captain Lobach didn’t turn left as her instructor suggested. It’s unclear why — maybe confusion, distraction, or visibility issues. Night vision goggles can make it harder to see, especially with the bright lights of a city like D.C.
- Air Traffic Control Confusion: One controller was juggling helicopters and jets at the same time — something that normally would be split between two people. Plus, the controller’s warning to the Black Hawk wasn’t very urgent. In busy airspace like D.C., a stronger warning might have made the difference.
- Systemic Problems: The way D.C.’s airspace is set up is dangerous. Helicopters and jets share the same narrow air lanes over the river. Experts have warned for years that it’s a risky setup — but little was done to fix it.
- Equipment Issues: There’s some evidence the helicopter’s altimeter — the instrument that tells pilots their altitude — might not have been working right.
The Bigger Picture
This crash highlights a truth conservatives have long pointed out: government-run systems often get bogged down by bureaucracy and fail to fix obvious problems until it’s too late.
The FAA knew there had been dozens of near-misses in this exact area, but instead of overhauling the rules or upgrading technology, they relied on outdated “see-and-avoid” policies — basically telling pilots to just watch out for each other.
In a complex, crowded sky, that’s not good enough.
And sadly, when tragedy struck, some people rushed to score political points.
Critics tried to blame “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) policies for the crash, saying they put unqualified pilots in the air.
Others, like Senator Tammy Duckworth, pushed back hard, saying pilot Captain Lobach was fully qualified.
Aftermath and Reforms
After the crash, the FAA finally made changes. They restricted helicopter flights over the Potomac except for emergencies and presidential traffic.
It’s a step — but it took 67 lives to get it done.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating. Black boxes from both aircraft are being analyzed, although water damage has made that harder.
Meanwhile, families are grieving.
This wasn’t just numbers on a chart — these were real people: pilots, soldiers, athletes, parents, and friends.
Lessons to Learn
This tragedy reminds us why government needs to stay focused on its few essential jobs: protecting lives, maintaining safe infrastructure, and fixing broken systems before disaster strikes.
When bloated agencies focus more on politics than performance, real people pay the price.
Safety, not slogans, should be the priority. Accountability shouldn’t wait until after a tragedy.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
