On January 29, 2025, a tragic mid-air collision occurred over Washington, D.C., when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport. All 67 individuals aboard both aircraft perished, marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001. The National Interest+5The Daily Beast+5Wikipedia+5The Daily Beast+8AP News+8Wikipedia+8
The Black Hawk helicopter, call sign PAT25, was conducting a night training exercise, including an annual flight evaluation for Captain Rebecca M. Lobach. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves served as her instructor, with Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara assisting. The helicopter was flying above the mandated 200-foot altitude limit and opted for “visual separation” instead of following air traffic control (ATC) guidance. MSN+3Wikipedia – Die freie Enzyklopädie+3The Daily Beast+3AeroTime+2The Daily Beast+2AP News+2
Fifteen seconds before the collision, Eaves suggested a left turn to increase separation from the incoming American Airlines jet. Lobach did not execute this maneuver. Investigations suggest that communication issues, including a possible missed ATC instruction due to radio interference, contributed to the crash. The Daily BeastMSN
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to investigate the incident, with a final report expected in early 2026.
