During a congressional hearing on Thursday, the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Chris Rocheleau, addressed a tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., which resulted in the deaths of 67 people. He highlighted the agency’s need to enhance flight safety measures. This hearing followed the deadly collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner, marking the nation’s worst air disaster since 2001.
Rocheleau reported that the FAA is conducting an artificial intelligence-led review to identify safety threats at airports with heavy helicopter-airplane congestion, with findings expected in a few weeks. The review includes busy locations such as Boston, New York, Baltimore-Washington, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and along the Gulf Coast. Rocheleau assured that immediate action would be taken if risks are discovered.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and congressional members questioned why the FAA overlooked numerous close calls near Ronald Reagan National Airport prior to the collision. Investigators identified 85 close calls in the three years leading up to the crash, indicating a growing safety issue that had been missed. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy pointed out a problem with identifying trends in the data collected by the FAA.
During the hearing, Dailey Crofton, who lost his brother Casey Crofton in the collision, expressed shock over the safety protocol lapses that contributed to the crash. Additionally, Texas Senator Ted Cruz revealed that a March 1 incident involving the Secret Service and U.S. Navy triggered collision alarms at Reagan Airport. They had tested anti-drone technology that interfered with planes’ warning systems, contrary to an FAA warning.
The FAA has restricted helicopter traffic around Reagan National since the crash, particularly when aircraft use the same runway involved in the collision. The FAA has also permanently banned a specific helicopter route under most scenarios, as per NTSB recommendations.
Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman, the U.S. Army’s aviation head, admitted that helicopters were still operating with locator systems turned off during sensitive missions. Rocheleau announced that the FAA would mandate all aircraft near Reagan National to broadcast locations using ADS-B out data, designed to enhance air traffic control accuracy.
Former Black Hawk pilot Tim Lilley criticized the Army for its lack of straightforward safety measures, such as activating locator systems or adding a crew member. He expressed frustration over the lack of accountability from the Army.
Homendy emphasized the importance of verifying the functionality of transmission equipment, as the helicopter involved had not broadcasted location data for 730 days. Post-crash inspections revealed several helicopters with inactive systems. She also expressed doubts over the Army’s handling of close call reports and adherence to altitude regulations, noting that safety discussions often prioritized basic occupational hazards.
