Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 30: Newly released footage has revealed the final moments before a catastrophic mid-air collision between a passenger aircraft and a military helicopter over Washington, D.C. last year, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent US history.
The nine-second clip, aired by CBS News’ ‘60 Minutes’, shows an American Airlines aircraft attempting to pull up moments before colliding with a Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The crash, which occurred on January 29, 2025, claimed the lives of all 64 passengers onboard the aircraft and three soldiers in the helicopter.
Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later pointed to serious lapses by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a key factor behind the tragedy.
According to the probe, the FAA had permitted helicopter operations in close proximity to the airport without adequate safeguards to separate them from commercial flights. The agency also failed to act on prior recommendations and data suggesting the need to reroute helicopter traffic away from busy flight paths.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy termed the accident “100% preventable” and called for urgent reforms in aviation safety protocols.
The investigation also highlighted shortcomings in the US Army’s safety practices and cited the helicopter pilot’s failure to properly detect and avoid the incoming passenger aircraft.
The incident has since intensified calls for stricter airspace management and coordination between civilian and military aviation authorities.