Late on January 29, 2025, an American Eagle flight collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The Potomac crash killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft. It was the deadliest air disaster in the U.S. in nearly 16 years and the first fatal U.S. commercial airline crash since 2009. As investigators release new details, it’s becoming clear how multiple failures contributed to the tragedy.

How did two aircraft end up in the same airspace?

The UH-60L Black Hawk, operated by the 12th Aviation Battalion, was out for the pilot’s required annual night flying evaluation. The flight was restricted to a ceiling of 200 feet to avoid conflicts with commercial air traffic. But at the time of the Potomac River crash, its radio altimeter recorded an altitude of 278 feet—above its designated limit.

American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ701ER operated by PSA Airlines, was on final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Initially cleared to land on Runway 1, air traffic control reassigned it to Runway 33 shortly before the collision. The two aircraft should never have been in the same airspace, but a series of errors led them directly into each other’s paths.

Miscommunication and malfunctioning equipment before the Potomac crash

The Black Hawk crew twice reported that they had visual contact with the CRJ700 and would maintain separation. However, investigators suspect they may have been looking at the wrong aircraft.

Adding to the confusion, the helicopter’s altimeters may have been miscalibrated. Earlier in the mission the pilot reported they were at 300 feet, while the instructor read 400 feet. The discrepancy suggests faulty readings, improper recalibration, or pilot error. They did not follow up on this discrepancy.

Then came the critical moment of miscommunication. Air traffic control directed the Black Hawk to “pass behind” the jet. But cockpit recordings suggest that transmission may have been partially blocked—possibly by the helicopter crew transmitting at the same time. Without clear instructions, the Black Hawk maintained its course.

Why the jet’s warning system didn’t save them

Flight 5342 was equipped with a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), designed to detect incoming aircraft and issue avoidance instructions. But TCAS does not provide maneuvering directions when an aircraft is close to the ground, to prevent pilots from being directed into terrain.

Seventeen seconds before the collision, TCAS issued a “Traffic, Traffic” warning. The crew immediately reacted, pulling up on the yoke to climb and avoid the helicopter. However, with only seconds to spare, they couldn’t gain enough altitude. The two aircraft collided at 8:47:59 p.m.

Did night vision goggles limit visibility before the Potomac crash?

Captain Rebecca Lobach, the Black Hawk’s pilot, was undergoing a night vision goggle evaluation. These goggles significantly limit peripheral vision, meaning she would have had to be looking directly at the CRJ700 to see it in time.

Since no evasive maneuvers were taken, it’s possible the Black Hawk crew never saw the jet. The helicopter sustained catastrophic damage during the crash, and both aircraft spiraled into the Potomac River.

Could this tragedy have been prevented?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating multiple factors, including the helicopter’s altitude, the possible radio miscommunication, and whether the crew had an accurate visual on the jet.

It has also been revealed that at the time of the Potomac River crash, a single air traffic controller was handling both the helicopter and incoming flights—a role typically assigned to two controllers. This decision was made so another controller could leave early. The FAA is now reviewing its staffing policies at Reagan National Airport.

Regardless of the final report, this disaster highlights how even minor miscalculations can have catastrophic consequences in high-traffic airspace. Let’s hope studying this data saves lives in the future.

You can see The Wall Street Journal’s investigation into the heavy traffic above the Potomac River in the video embedded below: