aviation incident at Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025
Factsheet
Accident
Date January 29, 2025 (2025-01-29)
Summary Mid-air collision due to FAA route design and oversight failures
Accident
Date January 29, 2025 (2025-01-29)
Summary Mid-air collision due to FAA route design and oversight failures
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › 2025_Potomac_River_mid-air_collision
2025 Potomac River mid-air collision - Wikipedia
2 days ago - The final report, released on February 17, 2026, concluded that the probable causes of the crash included the FAA's placement of the helicopter route, failures in the agency's oversight, and an overreliance on visual separation. Also causal was helicopter pilot error, loss of situational awareness by air traffic control due to high workload, and the United States Army's failure to ensure pilot understanding of altimeter error tolerances. Flight 5342 was operated by a 20-year-old Bombardier CRJ700, a regional jet commonly used for short- to medium-haul flights.
People
people.com › army-helicopter-pilot-in-dc-plane-crash-was-told-to-turn-left-before-collision-11725419
Seconds Before D.C. Plane Crash Killed 67, Army Pilot Was Told to Turn Away from Passenger Jet
May 1, 2025 - The Army helicopter pilot in the D.C. plane crash, Capt. Rebecca Lobach, was told by her instructor to turn left and away from American Airlines Flight 5342 before they collided on Jan. 29
Remember the DC helicopter crash in January that killed 64 people, including 12 children? Turns out the female pilot who was flying was given multiple warnings and was directly told by her male instructor/copilot to turn the opposite direction of the passenger jet to avoid a collision.
As a former Army Aviator, the simple fact is the Instructor Pilot should’ve taken control of the aircraft when the other pilot failed to comply with altitude or course corrections. This accident was 100 % preventable. Same as Toronto More on reddit.com
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April 27, 2025Black Hawk crew involved in DC crash made up of 'top pilots' with thousands of hours of experience
That is not a high hour crew in a historical sense. 500 is three years of flight time after flight school of UH60 MINIMUMS. This reads more like the Army doing damage control as the force loses experience and we try to do more with less. More on reddit.com
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January 31, 2025It Confirms The Female Black Hawk Helicopter Did Cause The DC Crash
Girlbossed too close to the sun And other air vehicles More on reddit.com
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April 30, 2025Third Black Hawk crew member involved in deadly crash near DC airport identified
STATEMENT FROM THE LOBACH FAMILY We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives. She was kind, generous, brilliant, funny, ambitious and strong. No one dreamed bigger or worked harder to achieve her goals. Rebecca began her career in the United States Army as a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina, and was in the top 20% of cadets nationwide. She achieved the rank of Captain, having twice served as a Platoon Leader and as a Company Executive Officer in the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. With more than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion. Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle. But she was as graceful as she was fierce: in addition to her duties as an Army aviator, Rebecca was honored to serve as a White House Military Social Aide, volunteering to support the President and First Lady in hosting countless White House events, including ceremonies awarding the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rebecca cared about people, and she extended to individuals the same fearless defense she gave to this nation. She was proud of the difference she made as a certified Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate and hoped to continue her education so she could serve this country as a physician when her time with the Army ended. She once said, “My experiences with SHARP have reinforced my resolve to serve others with compassion, understanding, and the resources necessary for healing.” Rebecca was many things. She was a daughter, sister, partner, and friend. She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. Most of all, she loved and was loved. Her life was short, but she made a difference in the lives of all who knew her. Our hearts break for the other families who have lost loved ones in this national tragedy and we mourn with them. We request that you please respect our privacy as we grieve this devastating loss. More on reddit.com
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February 1, 2025Videos
03:42
New reports say Army pilot failed to heed a warning before deadly ...
03:17
U.S Plane-Helicopter Collision| Army Confirms Capt. Rebecca Lobach ...
04:08
DC crash: Durham woman part of Black Hawk crew killed in midair ...
02:50
Black Hawk pilot's error led to DCA crash: report - YouTube
00:45
Army helicopter co-pilot in DC crash identified | FOX 13 Seattle ...
WRAL.com
wral.com › story › durham-woman-identified-as-third-soldier-aboard-army-helicopter-that-crashed-into-plane-in-dc › 21838052
Durham woman identified as third soldier aboard Army helicopter that crashed into plane in DC
February 3, 2025 - Rebecca began her career in the United States Army as a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina, and was in the top 20% of cadets nationwide. She achieved the rank of Captain, having twice served as a Platoon Leader and as a Company Executive Officer in the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. With more than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion.
The Guardian
theguardian.com › us-news › 2025 › apr › 09 › dc-place-crash-trans-pilot
Trans woman falsely linked to DC plane crash sues influencer for defamation | Washington DC plane crash | The Guardian
April 9, 2025 - Jo Ellis was wrongfully accused of flying the helicopter that collided with a plane over the Potomac River earlier this year.
NPR
npr.org › 2026 › 03 › 23 › g-s1-114773 › new-york-laguardia-jet-collides-with-vehicle
LaGuardia reopens after the crash that killed 2 and hurt dozens. Here's what to know
3 days ago - Air Canada jet collides with firetruck at LaGuardia: What to know An Air Canada regional jet hit a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia on Sunday night, killing both pilots. At least nine people are hospitalized, and hundreds of flights were canceled Monday. Updated March 23, 20266:07 PM ET Originally published March 23, 20264:46 AM ET ... The damaged Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the LaGuardia runway Monday morning. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images · New York's LaGuardia Airport has reopened, half a day after a runway collision between an Air Canada regional jet and a fire truck killed both pilots and injured dozens of passengers. Air Canada Flight 8646, operated by regional airline Jazz Aviation, was landing in New York around 11:30 p.m. Sunday when it struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle, said Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, wh
The Guardian
theguardian.com › us-news › 2025 › feb › 11 › washington-dc-plane-crash-diversity-trans-jo-ellis
‘I became collateral damage’: the trans pilot falsely targeted over Washington DC crash | Washington DC plane crash | The Guardian
February 11, 2025 - Without evidence, Trump blamed diversity after the crash, leading some to accuse Jo Ellis of being one of the pilots ... Jo Ellis is alive. It was a non-controversial, irrefutable fact – until she was accused of piloting the military helicopter ...
Daily Mail
dailymail.co.uk › news › article-15674943 › Horror-two-killed-helicopter-crash-chopper-smashes-multimillion-dollar-building.html
Horror as two are killed in helicopter crash after chopper smashes into multimillion-dollar building | Daily Mail Online
2 days ago - 'Saw a low-flying helicopter in Leisureville around 1. Wonder if it was the same one. Prayers to all involved,' another added. FlightAware tracked the aircraft's path from the moment it left the airport, almost 40 miles south. It flew along the Sawgrass Expressway and State Road 7 before turning on Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton. Eventually, the chopper flew over Congress Avenue before crashing into the vacant warehouse. Officials have not discovered where exactly the pilot was headed, but the helicopter appeared to be flying in the direction of Antiquers Aerodrome Airpark in Delray Beach. Some locals said they saw the helicopter flying low in the sky just before the crash. FlightAware tracked the flight path · It reportedly belonged to Palm Beach Helicopters' flight school. Training flights are relatively routine throughout South Florida's airspace.
CNN Underscored
amp.cnn.com › cnn › 2025 › 01 › 31 › us › dc-plane-crash-victims
DC plane collision: A ‘bright star’ helicopter pilot, a daughter of immigrants and figure skating champions are among victims | CNN
February 4, 2025 - Here are some of the victims of the tragedy identified so far. ... Donna Livingston took photos of her family aboard the plane before taking off from Wichita. CNN has blurred the passengers pictured in the background to protect their identities.
POLITICO
politico.com › news › 2026 › 03 › 15 › crew-of-fatal-us-military-crash-included-alabama-father-recently-deployed-and-several-from-ohio-00829217
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed and several from Ohio - POLITICO
2 weeks ago - Alex Klinner, 33, leaves behind three small children: 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, said Saturday while confirming his death. “It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad ...
TIME
time.com › u.s. › aviation › what to know about the passenger jet, army helicopter collision near washington, d.c.
Passenger Plane, Helicopter Crash Near Washington, D.C. | TIME
February 2, 2025 - The collision happened in one of the most monitored airspaces in the U.S., with its proximity to the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and other government buildings. The cause of the collision remains unknown, but the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which leads the investigation, has since recovered the commercial jet’s “black boxes”—the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—for analysis, according to Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. Inman told ABC News that the helicopter’s black box was also recovered. The collision is the U.S.’ first major commercial aviation incident in 16 years, following the Buffalo crash in 2009, which killed 49 aboard Colgan Air flight 3407 and one on the ground. ... According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a regional jet operated by PSA Airlines—a subsidiary of American Airlines—had departed from Wichita, Kans.
The Mirror
mirror.co.uk › home › news › us news › washington plane crash
DC crash: Army's 'extraordinary step' over female pilot in Washington disaster - The Mirror
February 1, 2025 - The US Army has refused to identify the female co-pilot of the helicopter in the DC air disaster at the request of the family. ... The unusual move has been described as an "extraordinary step" as the two other soldiers on the chopper have been ...
Newsweek
newsweek.com › home › my turn
I'm a Pilot's Wife. Plane Crash Speculations Are Insensitive and Disrespectful - Newsweek
February 3, 2025 - The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes last Thursday was a text from my husband in our family group chat that read, "Don't bother watching the news if you want to know about the crash in DC. You'll learn more in 7 minutes from this guy than watching the news all day." He included a link to a YouTube video made by Juan Browne, a current airline pilot who focuses on aviation safety. The video explained in detail—the route each aircraft took, shared radio transmissions and, most interesting to me, explained the TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) and why its warnings are diminished at lower altitudes, such as when planes are landing. This conversation was not entirely new to me, as I've been a pilot's wife for the last 23 years. Our daughter is an instrument rated pilot who earned her private pilot's license within weeks of getting her drivers license at 17. My husband has spent over three decades in aviation. He retired as a Navy Reserve Commander, who flew F/A-18s for 13 year
Reddit
reddit.com › r/conspiracy › remember the dc helicopter crash in january that killed 64 people, including 12 children? turns out the female pilot who was flying was given multiple warnings and was directly told by her male instructor/copilot to turn the opposite direction of the passenger jet to avoid a collision.
r/conspiracy on Reddit: Remember the DC helicopter crash in January that killed 64 people, including 12 children? Turns out the female pilot who was flying was given multiple warnings and was directly told by her male instructor/copilot to turn the opposite direction of the passenger jet to avoid a collision.
April 27, 2025 -
NY Times — Two seconds after the controller’s cut out instruction about passing behind the jet, Warrant Officer Eaves replied, affirming for the second time that the Black Hawk saw the traffic. “PAT two-five has the aircraft in sight. Request visual separation,” he said.
“Vis sep approved,” the controller replied.
It was their last communication.
The Black Hawk was 15 seconds away from crossing paths with the jet. Warrant Officer Eaves then turned his attention to Captain Lobach.
He told her he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank.
Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet.
She did not turn left.
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As a former Army Aviator, the simple fact is the Instructor Pilot should’ve taken control of the aircraft when the other pilot failed to comply with altitude or course corrections. This accident was 100 % preventable. Same as Toronto
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The flight path has the helicopter pilot flying towards TWO separate flights prior to the crash
FactCheck.org
factcheck.org › home › social media posts misidentify pilot killed in midair collision over d.c.
Social Media Posts Misidentify Pilot Killed in Midair Collision Over D.C. - FactCheck.org
February 27, 2025 - The U.S. Army identified one of the Black Hawk helicopter pilots killed in the midair crash with a passenger jet on Jan. 29 as Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach. But social media posts have falsely identified two different women to claim the pilot was ...
Quora
quora.com › Why-are-some-people-blaming-the-female-helicopter-pilot-who-crashed-the-US-army-helicopter-in-the-American-Airlines-plane-They-are-saying-that-she-was-a-diversity-hire
Why are some people blaming the female helicopter pilot who crashed the US army helicopter in the American Airlines plane? They are saying that she was a diversity hire. - Quora
Answer (1 of 50): I am putting more and more blame in the system, that allowed aircraft to cross each others path with ludicrously small safety margin. . . . . Don’t just blame the helicopter pilot, there is fault with her supervisor and fault with the regulations allowing aircraft to cross ...
WorldNetDaily
wnd.com › home › ‘highly unusual move’: u.s. army withholds name of female helicopter pilot in d.c. crash, 2 others identified
'Highly unusual move': U.S. Army withholds name of female helicopter pilot in D.C. crash, 2 others identified * WorldNetDaily * by Tom Bowman, Quil Lawrence, NPR
January 31, 2025 - The third crew member on the helicopter was a female pilot with 500 hours of flying experience, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation.
AP News
apnews.com › article › helicopter-crash-arizona-shooting-92b9a85e16645e55cb20e6736a8adec6
Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crashes, killing pilot and trooper | AP News
The helicopter was responding to assist officers with an active shooter situation when it crashed. Officials have not released the names of those killed: the pilot or the trooper, who was a paramedic on board. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share ... The blocked road to a neighborhood in Flagstaff, Arizona, where police say a man opened fire at officers is seen Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey) Read More ... The blocked road to a neighborhood in Flagstaff, Arizona, where police say a man opened fire at officers is seen Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share ... In this grab taken from video, emergency cervices work at a scene of Police Helicopter Crash in Flagstaff, Arizona, the night from Feb.
Published February 5, 2026
9News
amp.9news.com.au › article › 6bb9636b-1bc5-4641-8850-a7d804067f1a
Washington DC plane crash update: Air traffic controllers warned US Army helicopter before crash with passenger plane
January 30, 2025 - Air traffic controllers warned the pilots of a US Army helicopter circling Washington DC moments before it collided with an American Airlines commercial jet. Audio obtained by CNN captured the moment operators asked the Black Hawk helicopter if it could see the plane, which was operated by PSA Airlines. "PAT 2-5, do you have the CRJ in sight?" the air traffic controller asked the helicopter less than 30 seconds before the crash. READ MORE: Jet carrying 64 people collides with helicopter, crashes into river · A helicopter uses its searchlight as it flies above the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "PAT 2-5, pass behind the CRJ," the controller added. The audio recorded then gasps from those inside the helicopter at the moment of impact. The controllers then alerted another pilot of the crash, which the recording captured.