
In the aftermath of the tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., investigators have begun analyzing data from the recovered black boxes to determine the sequence of events that led to the disaster.
On January 29, 2025, a PSA Airlines jet, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was on its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Simultaneously, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a routine night evaluation flight from Davison Army Airfield in Fairfax County, Virginia. The two aircraft collided over the Potomac River, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft.
Initial analysis of the flight data recorders indicates that the Black Hawk helicopter may have been operating above its designated maximum altitude of 200 feet at the time of the collision. According to Sky News, data from the jet’s flight recorder shows that it was at an altitude of 325 feet during the impact.
During a Saturday evening news conference, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman stated that just before the crash, there was a minor adjustment in pitch, as reported by CNN. “At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch,” he explained, “That is something that we will get you more detail on.”
Inman also mentioned that investigators have yet to obtain data from the Black Hawk’s flight recorder, making it impossible to confirm the helicopter’s altitude at the time of the crash. However, he added, “Obviously an impact occurred, and I would say when an impact occurs, that is typically where the altitude of both aircraft were at the moment.”
According to the BBC, the U.S. Army has identified the three soldiers aboard the helicopter:
- Captain Rebecca Lobach, 28, from Durham, North Carolina, served with the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, since 2019. She was the pilot undergoing her annual night evaluation flight.
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, acted as the evaluating pilot.
- Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara, 29, from Lilburn, Georgia, served as the crew chief.
The passengers and crew of Flight 5342 included 60 passengers and four crew members. Among them were Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Samuel Lilley, 28.
Recovery teams have retrieved 42 bodies from the Potomac River, and efforts to remove the wreckage are ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, focusing on factors such as air traffic control communications, flight paths, and potential mechanical issues.
Notably, it has been reported that a single air traffic controller was managing both aircraft at the time of the crash, an arrangement considered “not normal” for that time of day at Reagan National Airport, as noted by the New York Times. Controllers had issued two warnings to the helicopter crew about the approaching jet, with the first alert occurring two minutes before the collision.
The collision has had a profound impact on the communities connected to the victims. Memorial services are being planned, and tributes have poured in from across the nation. Captain Lobach, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate with a degree in biology, was remembered by friends and colleagues as a dedicated and accomplished individual.
As the investigation continues, authorities are committed to uncovering the factors that led to this tragic event to prevent future occurrences.