Black Hawk Pilot Involved in Potomac Crash Had Turned Off Key Altitude and Speed Reporting System – Guy D. McCardle
By now, we’ve all heard the story. On the evening of January 29, 2025, a catastrophic mid-air collision occurred over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter. Tragically, all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft perished in the accident.
Details of the Collision
Today, we’ll find out a bit more about what may have contributed to this tragic incident.
American Airlines Flight 5342 was on its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas. Concurrently, the Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a routine night training mission originating from Davison Army Airfield in Virginia. Preliminary data indicates that the collision occurred at an altitude of approximately 325 feet, despite Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations mandating that helicopters in that corridor maintain an altitude at or below 200 feet.
ADS-B System Deactivation
The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the mid-air collision over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025, was not broadcasting ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) signals. Instead, it was using MLAT (Multilateration) technology, a standard tracking method employed by both military and civilian aviation. While ADS-B is a modern aviation surveillance system that continuously transmits an aircraft’s location, velocity, and altitude, military aircraft often rely on alternative tracking methods for operational security and flexibility.
ADS-B has been mandatory for most aircraft flying in U.S. airspace since January 1, 2020, as it provides real-time tracking and improves situational awareness for both pilots and air traffic controllers. However, MLAT operates differently, requiring multiple ground-based receivers to calculate an aircraft’s position. This method is typically more effective at higher altitudes where there is better coverage, which could have influenced how the Black Hawk’s position was monitored and relayed to air traffic control.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the altitude data of the Black Hawk at the time of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest the helicopter may have been flying at 300 feet—100 feet above the maximum altitude permitted for helicopters in that area. However, the NTSB has noted that this data is rounded to the nearest 100 feet and requires further verification before conclusions can be drawn. That said, we know the mid-air collision occurred at about 325 feet (plus or minus 25 feet), and the Black Hawk was obviously involved in that collision. Therefore, it must have exceeded its maximum allowable altitude of 200 feet for that route.
The fact that ADS-B was shut off on the Black Hawk raises concerns about the challenges of integrating different aircraft tracking systems within shared airspace, particularly in sensitive areas like Washington, D.C. With civilian aircraft depending on ADS-B for traffic awareness and collision avoidance, military aircraft using alternative systems may not always be visible in the same way. This incident underscores the need for further discussions on balancing military operational needs with airspace safety to prevent future accidents.
Senator Ted Cruz, following a briefing with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA, expressed concern over the deactivation, stating, “The reason for turning it off does not seem justified. And in this instance, this was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off.”
By now, we’ve all heard the story. On the evening of January 29, 2025, a catastrophic mid-air collision occurred over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter. Tragically, all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft perished in the accident.
Details of the Collision
Today, we’ll find out a bit more about what may have contributed to this tragic incident.
American Airlines Flight 5342 was on its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas. Concurrently, the Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a routine night training mission originating from Davison Army Airfield in Virginia. Preliminary data indicates that the collision occurred at an altitude of approximately 325 feet, despite Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations mandating that helicopters in that corridor maintain an altitude at or below 200 feet.
ADS-B System Deactivation
The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the mid-air collision over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025, was not broadcasting ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) signals. Instead, it was using MLAT (Multilateration) technology, a standard tracking method employed by both military and civilian aviation. While ADS-B is a modern aviation surveillance system that continuously transmits an aircraft’s location, velocity, and altitude, military aircraft often rely on alternative tracking methods for operational security and flexibility.
ADS-B has been mandatory for most aircraft flying in U.S. airspace since January 1, 2020, as it provides real-time tracking and improves situational awareness for both pilots and air traffic controllers. However, MLAT operates differently, requiring multiple ground-based receivers to calculate an aircraft’s position. This method is typically more effective at higher altitudes where there is better coverage, which could have influenced how the Black Hawk’s position was monitored and relayed to air traffic control.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the altitude data of the Black Hawk at the time of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest the helicopter may have been flying at 300 feet—100 feet above the maximum altitude permitted for helicopters in that area. However, the NTSB has noted that this data is rounded to the nearest 100 feet and requires further verification before conclusions can be drawn. That said, we know the mid-air collision occurred at about 325 feet (plus or minus 25 feet), and the Black Hawk was obviously involved in that collision. Therefore, it must have exceeded its maximum allowable altitude of 200 feet for that route.
The fact that ADS-B was shut off on the Black Hawk raises concerns about the challenges of integrating different aircraft tracking systems within shared airspace, particularly in sensitive areas like Washington, D.C. With civilian aircraft depending on ADS-B for traffic awareness and collision avoidance, military aircraft using alternative systems may not always be visible in the same way. This incident underscores the need for further discussions on balancing military operational needs with airspace safety to prevent future accidents.
Senator Ted Cruz, following a briefing with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA, expressed concern over the deactivation, stating, “The reason for turning it off does not seem justified. And in this instance, this was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off.”
Implications of ADS-B Deactivation
The decision to deactivate ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) on military aircraft, including the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the recent mid-air collision over the Potomac River, carries significant implications for aviation safety and air traffic management. One of the primary concerns is safety—ADS-B provides real-time position, velocity, and altitude information, which enhances situational awareness for both air traffic controllers and other aircraft. When this system is turned off, the risk of miscommunication or missed detections increases, making airspace less predictable and potentially more dangerous.
While civilian aircraft are generally required to keep ADS-B active, military and government aircraft have exceptions for national defense, homeland security, intelligence, and law enforcement operations. This means that while the deactivation of ADS-B may be legally permitted in certain cases, it can still create challenges in mixed airspace where both civilian and military aircraft operate. The absence of ADS-B increases the risk of mid-air collisions, especially in congested areas like Washington, D.C., where precise aircraft tracking is crucial for maintaining order and safety.
Another issue is air traffic management. Controllers rely heavily on ADS-B data to track aircraft accurately, and without it, they may struggle to manage flight paths efficiently. This could lead to ground stops, delays, or other disruptions in air traffic flow as controllers work to ensure safe separation between aircraft. The military’s ability to deactivate ADS-B also presents security considerations. It allows for discreet operations, which are necessary for national security missions.
However, this capability also raises concerns about the potential misuse of deactivation by unauthorized civilian operators attempting to evade detection, an action considered a serious violation by the FAA. Beyond security, the use of different tracking technologies, such as MLAT (Multilateration) for military aircraft, complicates the integration of military and civilian air traffic. In shared airspace, the lack of standardized tracking across all aircraft can create coordination challenges and increase the likelihood of accidents. Furthermore, when incidents like this mid-air collision occur, the absence of ADS-B data makes it harder for investigators to reconstruct flight paths and determine the cause of the accident, delaying crucial findings and safety improvements.
These challenges highlight the delicate balance between operational security, aviation safety, and air traffic efficiency. While military aircraft must retain some flexibility for national security reasons, incidents like this raise important questions about how to ensure safety in shared airspace while maintaining necessary defense capabilities. The ongoing investigation will likely prompt discussions on whether changes should be made to better integrate military and civilian aviation systems in the future.
Air Traffic Control and Procedural Concerns
Further complicating the situation, reports indicate that the air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport was operating with reduced staffing at the time of the accident. A single controller was managing both helicopter and fixed-wing traffic, a deviation from standard practice during periods of higher traffic volume. This staffing decision may have contributed to the mismanagement of the airspace and the subsequent collision.
Broader Safety and Policy Considerations
This tragedy has prompted a reevaluation of policies regarding military flight operations in close proximity to civilian air traffic corridors. Senator Maria Cantwell has called for a reassessment of military helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport, questioning the safety implications of such operations.
Additionally, the incident has reignited discussions about the modernization of the U.S. air traffic control system. President Donald Trump criticized the current system as “obsolete” and has pledged to implement advanced technologies to enhance aviation safety.
Summing Up
The mid-air collision over the Potomac River is a somber reminder of the critical importance of adherence to safety protocols and the need for robust communication and surveillance systems in aviation. The deactivation of the ADS-B system on the Black Hawk helicopter, coupled with potential lapses in air traffic control procedures, underscores the need for a comprehensive review of current practices to prevent such tragedies in the future.
