Pilot's Split-Second Mistake Ends in Mass Tragedy

On a cold January night over Washington, D.C., two aircraft crossed paths in one of the most congested airspaces in the country. Moments later, 67 people were dead — passengers aboard a commercial flight and crew in a military helicopter. The tragic midair collision wasn't just a freak accident, according to early investigation reports.

It may have been preventable.

A Catastrophic Collision

American Eagle^® Flight 5342 was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan. 29 when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter flown by the U.S. Army.

The crash, which killed all 64 passengers and crew on the jet, as well as the three soldiers aboard the helicopter, marked the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. in decades.

The Black Hawk was flying along Helicopter Route 4, which runs low along the Potomac River and crosses the approach path for one of Reagan's runways. Though designed for safe navigation, this route has seen numerous close calls over the years — including at least 85 near-miss incidents since 2021 alone, according to Flying Magazine.

15 Seconds Before Disaster

At the controls of the Black Hawk was Army Captain Rebecca Lobach, 28, undergoing a routine flight evaluation. Sitting beside her was instructor Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves. The two had already received a clearance for "visual separation" — a common procedure where pilots agree to see and avoid other aircraft, thereby reducing the controller's role in managing traffic, according to Flying Magazine.

According to FOX5 DC, voice recorder data and a report by The New York Times indicate that about 15 seconds before the crash, Eaves told Lobach he believed air traffic control wanted them to "turn left," a move that would have created more distance from the incoming jet.

But Lobach did not turn.

It's unclear whether she misunderstood, ignored, or simply hesitated. What is clear is that the Black Hawk kept climbing — to nearly 278 feet, far above its permitted altitude — and directly into the path of the jet.

Warning Signs Missed

Investigators say the helicopter crew also missed critical radio instructions. As reported in the New York Times article and Fox5 DC, "One of the other issues was that the pilots 'stepped on' some of the air traffic controller's instructions – cutting him off when turning their microphones on to talk, and likely missing important info."

Another message from the tower — a command to pass behind the jet — may have been drowned out by a cockpit conflict alert.

The Black Hawk also lacked a key safety feature. ADS-B Out, a standard system for transmitting an aircraft's position and altitude in real time, had been turned off due to military confidentiality. Without it, radar updates were delayed by up to 12 seconds — potentially critical in an airspace where seconds count.

An Instructor's Responsibility

Some pilots interviewed in follow-up reports pointed to Eaves as the one who should have taken control. Though Lobach was flying, Eaves — the more experienced aviator — could have overridden her inputs. Whether he tried to do so remains unknown.

"This was 100% crew error. No one thinks it was deliberate. It was a bad situation on a route that was a recipe for disaster," a fellow Black Hawk pilot told PEOPLE. "If you have to pin this on someone, it's the instructor. He should have grabbed the stick. He has the authority to do that."

Still, this wasn't just about one decision in one cockpit. The Federal Aviation Administration has since made changes at Reagan Airport, including barring most nonessential helicopter operations and modifying the route where the crash occurred.

The final report from the National Transportation Safety Board is expected in 2026. For now, the investigation continues, and families mourn lives lost in a crash that experts say didn't have to happen.

References: Seconds Before DC Plane Crash Killed 67, Army Pilot Was Told to Turn Away from Passenger Jet | Report: Pilot of Black Hawk in Fatal Collision Failed to Heed Instructions | Black Hawk Pilot Failed to Heed Flight Instructor Before DCA Plane Crash: Report