Federal detectives have raised concerns 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 provided an update 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 clashed in midair over the Potomac River, eliminating everybody on board both aircrafts.

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

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy stated: 'We stay worried about the substantial capacity for future mid-air collision at DCA.'

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

When cops, medical or presidential transport helicopters should use the area civilian aircrafts are stopped from being in the exact same area.

Homendy stated the NTSB is now recommending that the FAA discover a 'long-term service' for alternate routes for helicopters when two of the airport's runways are in usage.

Emergency units react after a passenger airplane 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 speaks with press reporters about the 29 January mid-air accident

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

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

It was revealed that 15,214 'near-miss events' of planes getting signals about helicopters being in between October 2021 and December 2024.

The NTSB likewise stated that there were 85 cases where 2 aircraft where laterally split 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 utilized that info any time to determine that we have a pattern here and a problem here, and looked at that route; that didn't happen, which is why we're doing something about it today. But sadly, individuals lost lives, and loved 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 data comes in how did the FAA not understand. How did they not study the information to say "hi, this is a hot area, we are having near misses and if we do not change our methods we are gon na lose lives".'

He added: 'That wasn't done, possibly there was a focus on something other than 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 sitting 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 associated with the crash might have had incorrect altitude readings in the minutes before the crash.

The accident likely occurred at an altitude 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, stating: 'We're grateful for the National Transportation Safety Board's urgent security recommendations to limit helicopter traffic near DCA and for its thorough investigation.

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

The helicopter pilots might have also missed out on part of another communication, when the tower said the jet was turning toward a different runway, Homendy stated last month.

The helicopter was on a 'check' flight that night where the pilot was going through an annual test and a test on utilizing night vision goggles, Homendy said.

Investigators believe the team was wearing night vision safety glasses throughout the flight.

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

At the time of the accident, a single air traffic controller was all at once monitoring both the helicopter and plane traffic.

Those jobs are typically dealt with in between 2 people from 10am until 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New york city Times.

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

Surveillance video taken from inside the airport recorded the moment the 2 clashed in midair

At the time of the collision, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously 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 normally combined and left to a single person as the airport sees less traffic later on in the night.

A supervisor supposedly decided to integrate those responsibilities before the scheduled cutoff time nevertheless, and allowed one air traffic controller to leave work early.

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

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

The circumstance appeared to have actually improved since 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 spending plan cuts.

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In order to fill the spaces, controllers are frequently asked to work 10-hour days, six days a week.

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

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

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

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

Miraculously, everyone on board endured after being suspended upside-down by their seatbelts for several minutes up until they tentatively started evacuating.

The plane had actually been heading to Toronto from Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport with 76 guests and 4 team members on board.

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

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

Dramatic video footage showed the Beechcraft A36TC erupt in flames in the car park of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five people were rushed to hospital.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency situation vehicles hurried to the scene in Lancaster County as flames engulfed the aircraft and close-by lorries.

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

American Airlines