Federal private investigators have actually raised issues of a potential for another fatal airplane crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair collision earlier this year eliminated 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board offered an update on their investigation into the cause of the catastrophe which took place on January 29 in Washington.

An American Airlines jetliner and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided in midair over the Potomac River, killing everybody on board both airplanes.

As part of an initial report launched on Tuesday, private investigators raised issues of more accidents involving helicopters at the airport.

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy stated: 'We remain concerned about the substantial potential for future mid-air accident at DCA.'

Her issues revolve around Transport Secretary Sean Duffy relocating to limit helicopter traffic around the location, but that is set to stop at the end of the month.

When authorities, medical or presidential transportation helicopters must utilize the area civilian aircrafts are stopped from being in the very same location.

Homendy stated the NTSB is now recommending that the FAA discover a 'irreversible solution' for detours for helicopters when 2 of the airport's runways are in use.

Emergency systems react after a traveler airplane clashed with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia

Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) Jennifer Homendy speaks with press reporters about the 29 January mid-air accident

It was also exposed on Tuesday that there was alerting check in the lead up to the lethal disaster.

Those probing the crash went through 944,179 operations in between October 2021 and December 2024.

It was revealed that 15,214 'near-miss events' of airplanes getting informs about helicopters remaining in close proximity in between October 2021 and December 2024.

The NTSB likewise stated that there were 85 cases where 2 airplane where laterally divided by less than 1,500 feet, and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet.

Homendy added: 'That data from October 2021 through December 2024, (the FAA) might have used that details at any time to figure out that we have a pattern here and an issue here, and looked at that route; that didn't happen, which is why we're acting today. But regrettably, individuals lost lives, and loved ones are grieving.'

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy knocked these findings at a later press conference on Tuesday.

Duffy said: 'I think the concern is when this information comes in how did the FAA not know. How did they not study the data to say "hi, this is a location, we are having near misses and if we do not change our ways we are gon na lose lives".'

He included: 'That wasn't done, possibly there was a concentrate on something other than safety.'

Duffy would later on added when questioned by a reporter about the near misses that the information had 'p *** ed him off'.

Pictured: Parts of the wreckage seen being in the Potomac River after Flight 5342 hit an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, eliminating 67 people

Your web browser does not support iframes.

Investigators believe that the helicopter associated with the crash may have had incorrect altitude readings in the minutes before the crash.

The crash most likely happened at an altitude simply under 300 feet, as the airplane came down toward the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limit for that location.

On Tuesday American Airlines invited the report by the NTSB, saying: 'We're grateful for the National Transportation Safety Board's immediate security suggestions to limit helicopter traffic near DCA and for its thorough examination.

'We will continue to collaborate closely with PSA Airlines as it works together as an investigative party member.'

The helicopter pilots may have likewise missed part of another interaction, when the tower said the jet was turning towards a various runway, Homendy stated last month.

The helicopter was on a 'check' flight that night where the pilot was undergoing a yearly test and a test on utilizing night vision goggles, Homendy said.

Investigators think the crew was using night vision goggles throughout the flight.

The Army has stated the Black Hawk crew was extremely experienced, and accustomed to the crowded skies around the country ´ s capital.

At the time of the crash, a single air traffic controller was at the same time keeping track of both the helicopter and plane traffic.

Those jobs are normally dealt with between 2 individuals from 10am until 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New York Times.

Those jobs are generally dealt with in between two people from 10am until 9:30 pm, according to the report.

Surveillance video footage drawn from inside the airport recorded the minute the 2 clashed in midair

At the time of the collision, a single air traffic controller was at the same time keeping an eye on both the helicopter and plane traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30 pm the tasks are typically integrated and delegated a single person as the airport sees less traffic later on in the night.

A supervisor apparently decided to combine those responsibilities before the scheduled cutoff time nevertheless, and permitted one air traffic controller to leave work early.

The FAA report stated that staffing setup 'was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic'.

Reagan National has been understaffed for several years, with simply 19 completely since September 2023 - well below the target of 30 - according to the most current Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan submitted to Congress.

The situation appeared to have actually improved ever since, as a source told CNN the Reagan National control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled.

Chronic understaffing at air traffic control towers is absolutely nothing brand-new, with popular causes consisting of high turnover and spending plan cuts.

EXCLUSIVE

Full list of DC airplane crash victims: Four more travelers recognized after DC airport tragedy

In order to fill the gaps, controllers are often asked to work 10-hour days, 6 days a week.

After the release of the report, previous Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation Mary Schiavo deemed the findings as 'unusual'.

She said: 'This NTSB action is extremely unusual. The release of an emergency situation recommendation requesting the FAA take instant action, before the completion of the NTSB examination is uncommon.'

The 2 aircraft had collided in a huge fireball that showed up on dashcams of automobiles driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

Less than a month later on, on February 17, a Delta traveler plane crashed-landed upside down in chaotic scenes at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.

Miraculously, everybody on board survived after being suspended upside-down by their seat belts for numerous minutes till they tentatively started leaving.

The aircraft had actually been heading to Toronto from Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport with 76 travelers and four team members on board.

Some 21 individuals were taken to the healthcare facility for treatment to minor injuries, and Delta has provided everyone a no-strings $30,000 payout in payment.

And the aircraft carnage is continuous - on Sunday, yet another jet crash-landed, this time in a parking area of a suburban Pennsylvania retirement community.

Dramatic video footage showed the Beechcraft A36TC appear in flames in the car park of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five people were hurried to medical facility.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene in Lancaster County as flames swallowed up the plane and close-by vehicles.

The airplane took off as set up on Sunday afternoon, but rapidly requested to land back on the tarmac due to the fact that its door had actually opened.

American Airlines