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Federal investigators have raised issues of a capacity for another deadly plane crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair accident earlier this year eliminated 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board gave an upgrade on their examination into the cause of the catastrophe which occurred on January 29 in Washington.

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

As part of a preliminary report released on Tuesday, investigators raised issues of more collisions involving helicopters at the airport.

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said: 'We remain concerned about the considerable potential for future mid-air collision at DCA.'

Her concerns revolve around Transport Secretary Sean Duffy relocating to limit helicopter traffic around the area, however that is set to stop at the end of the month.

When cops, medical or governmental transportation helicopters must use the space civilian planes are stopped from remaining in the exact same area.

Homendy stated the NTSB is now advising that the FAA discover a 'permanent service' for detours for helicopters when two of the airport's runways remain in usage.

Emergency units react after a passenger aircraft hit 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 talks to reporters about the 29 January mid-air collision

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

The NTSB likewise stated that there were 85 cases where 2 aircraft 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 information whenever to determine that we have a trend here and an issue here, and looked at that path; that didn't take place, which is why we're taking action 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 state "hey, this is a location, we are having near misses and if we don't alter our methods we are gon na lose lives".'

He included: 'That wasn't done, maybe there was a concentrate on something besides safety.'

Duffy would later included when questioned by a press reporter about the near misses out on 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 individuals

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Investigators think that the helicopter involved in the crash might have had incorrect altitude readings in the minutes before the crash.

The accident likely happened at an elevation just under 300 feet, as the airplane descended toward the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limit for that area.

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

'We will continue to coordinate carefully 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 going through a yearly test and a test on utilizing night vision goggles, Homendy said.

Investigators think the crew was wearing night vision safety glasses throughout the flight.

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

At the time of the crash, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously keeping an eye on both the helicopter and aircraft traffic.

Those tasks are generally managed in between 2 people from 10am up until 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New york city Times.

Those tasks are usually handled in between 2 individuals from 10am until 9:30 pm, according to the report.

Surveillance footage taken from inside the airport recorded the minute the two collided in midair

At the time of the accident, a single air traffic controller was concurrently keeping an eye on both the helicopter and airplane traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30 pm the responsibilities are generally combined and delegated one individual as the airport sees less traffic later in the night.

A supervisor reportedly chose to combine those tasks before the scheduled cutoff time however, and permitted one air traffic controller to leave work early.

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

Reagan National has been understaffed for several years, with just 19 completely licensed controllers since September 2023 - well listed below the target of 30 - according to the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan sent to Congress.

The circumstance appeared to have actually improved considering that then, 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 including high turnover and budget cuts.

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In order to fill the spaces, controllers are frequently 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 stated: 'This NTSB action is extremely uncommon. The release of an emergency situation recommendation asking for the FAA take immediate action, before the completion of the NTSB examination is uncommon.'

The 2 airplane had actually clashed in a substantial fireball that was noticeable on dashcams of cars driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

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

Miraculously, everyone on board made it through after being suspended upside-down by their seat belts for a number of minutes until they tentatively started leaving.

The aircraft had been heading to Toronto from Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport with 76 passengers and 4 crew members on board.

Some 21 people were taken to the healthcare facility for treatment to small injuries, and Delta has offered everyone a no-strings $30,000 payout in compensation.

And the aircraft carnage is ongoing - on Sunday, yet another jet crash-landed, this time in a parking lot of a rural Pennsylvania retirement home.

Dramatic footage revealed the Beechcraft A36TC erupt in flames in the parking lot of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five people were rushed to hospital.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency automobiles rushed to the scene in Lancaster County as flames the aircraft and neighboring lorries.

The plane took off as arranged on Sunday afternoon, however rapidly requested to land back on the tarmac due to the fact that its door had opened.

American Airlines