Federal detectives have actually raised concerns of a capacity for another deadly aircraft crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair crash earlier this year killed 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board provided an upgrade on their investigation into the reason for the catastrophe which happened on January 29 in Washington.

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

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

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said: 'We remain worried about the significant capacity for future mid-air crash at DCA.'

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

When cops, medical or presidential transportation helicopters need to use the space civilian planes are stopped from remaining in the same area.

Homendy stated the NTSB is now advising that the FAA find a 'permanent option' for detours for helicopters when two of the airport's runways are in use.

Emergency systems respond after a guest aircraft collided 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 reporters about the 29 January mid-air crash

It was likewise revealed on Tuesday that there was alerting indications in the lead up to the deadly disaster.

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

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

The NTSB also said that there were 85 cases where two airplane where laterally split by less than 1,500 feet, and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet.

Homendy included: 'That data from October 2021 through December 2024, (the FAA) could have utilized that info any time to figure out that we have a pattern here and a problem here, and looked at that route; that didn't occur, which is why we're doing something about it today. But sadly, people lost lives, and liked ones are grieving.'

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

Duffy stated: 'I believe the question 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 hot spot, we are having near misses and if we do not alter our methods we are gon na lose lives".'

He added: 'That wasn't done, perhaps there was a concentrate on something aside from safety.'

Duffy would later included when questioned by a press reporter about the near misses that the data had 'p *** ed him off'.

Pictured: Parts of the wreckage seen sitting in the Potomac River after Flight 5342 clashed with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, eliminating 67 individuals

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Investigators believe that the helicopter involved in the crash may have had inaccurate elevation readings in the minutes before the crash.

The accident most likely took place at an elevation simply under 300 feet, as the aircraft came down toward the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limit for that place.

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

'We will continue to collaborate carefully with PSA Airlines as it cooperates as an investigative party member.'

The helicopter pilots may have also missed out on part of another interaction, when the tower stated the jet was turning towards a different runway, Homendy stated last month.

The helicopter was on a 'check' flight that night where the pilot was undergoing an annual test and a test on using night vision safety glasses, Homendy stated.

Investigators believe the team was using night vision goggles throughout the flight.

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

At the time of the accident, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously keeping track of both the helicopter and aircraft traffic.

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

Those tasks are normally managed between 2 people from 10am until 9:30 pm, according to the report.

Surveillance video footage taken from inside the airport recorded the minute the 2 collided in midair

At the time of the accident, a single air traffic controller was at the same time keeping track of both the helicopter and aircraft traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30 pm the responsibilities are normally combined and delegated a single person as the airport sees less traffic later in the night.

A supervisor supposedly decided to integrate those tasks before the set up cutoff time nevertheless, and enabled 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 actually been understaffed for several years, with just 19 completely accredited controllers as of September 2023 - well below the target of 30 - according to the most current Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan submitted to Congress.

The scenario appeared to have actually enhanced 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 well-known causes including high turnover and budget plan cuts.

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

After the release of the report, former Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation Mary Schiavo considered the findings as 'uncommon'.

She stated: 'This NTSB action is highly uncommon. The release of an emergency situation suggestion asking for the FAA take immediate action, before the completion of the NTSB investigation is unusual.'

The two aircraft had clashed in a big fireball that was noticeable on dashcams of vehicles driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

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

Miraculously, everyone on board survived after being suspended upside-down by their seatbelts for several minutes until they tentatively began leaving.

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

Some 21 individuals were taken to the health center for treatment to minor injuries, and Delta has used everyone a no-strings $30,000 payment in settlement.

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

Dramatic video footage showed the Beechcraft A36TC appear in flames in the parking area of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five people were rushed to medical facility.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency situation cars rushed to the scene in Lancaster County as flames engulfed the airplane and nearby vehicles.

The aircraft took off as on Sunday afternoon, however quickly asked for to land back on the tarmac because its door had opened.

American Airlines