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

The National Transportation Safety Board provided an update on their investigation into the reason for the disaster 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 everybody on board both aircrafts.

As part of an initial report released on Tuesday, detectives raised concerns of more accidents 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 focus on Transport Secretary Sean Duffy moving to restrict helicopter traffic around the location, but that is set to stop at the end of the month.

When authorities, medical or presidential transportation helicopters must use the space civilian aircrafts are stopped from being in the very same area.

Homendy said the NTSB is now recommending that the FAA discover a 'long-term service' for detours for helicopters when 2 of the airport's runways remain in use.

Emergency units react after a guest 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 talks to reporters about the 29 January mid-air accident

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

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 notifies about helicopters remaining in close distance 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 details whenever to determine that we have a pattern here and a problem here, and took a look at that path; that didn't take place, which is why we're taking action today. But unfortunately, individuals lost lives, and enjoyed ones are grieving.'

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

Duffy stated: 'I believe the concern is when this data can be found in how did the FAA not understand. How did they not study the data to state "hi, this is a hot spot, 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, possibly 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 data 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, killing 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 collision most likely occurred at an altitude just under 300 feet, as the airplane came down toward the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limit for that location.

On Tuesday American Airlines welcomed the report by the NTSB, stating: '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 coordinate carefully with PSA Airlines as it complies as an investigative party member.'

The helicopter pilots may have also missed out on part of another communication, 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 undergoing a yearly test and a test on utilizing night vision goggles, Homendy stated.

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

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

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

Those jobs are generally dealt with between 2 people from 10am till 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New York Times.

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

Surveillance video drawn from inside the airport caught the minute the 2 clashed in midair

At the time of the accident, a single air traffic controller was concurrently monitoring both the helicopter and plane traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30 pm the duties are typically combined and left to a single person as the airport sees less traffic later on in the night.

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

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

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

The situation appeared to have improved since then, as a source informed CNN the Reagan National control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled.

Chronic understaffing at air traffic control service towers is nothing brand-new, with popular causes consisting of high turnover and budget cuts.

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In order to fill the gaps, controllers are often 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 deemed the findings as 'uncommon'.

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

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

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

Miraculously, everybody on board made it through after being suspended upside-down by their seat belts for numerous minutes up until they tentatively started leaving.

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

Some 21 individuals were taken to the healthcare facility for treatment to small injuries, and Delta has provided everyone a no-strings $30,000 payment in settlement.

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

Dramatic footage revealed the Beechcraft A36TC erupt in flames in the parking lot of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five individuals were hurried to health center.

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

The airplane took off as arranged on Sunday afternoon, however quickly asked for to land back on the tarmac due to the fact that its door had actually opened.

American Airlines