FAA Acting Administrator Admits "Something Was Missed" Amid American Airlines Flight 5342 Crash

By Gaurav Joshi

At a recent Senate hearing on the midair collision in Washington, D.C., the FAA Acting Administrator said that something was missed that resulted in the fatal crash in January. Several questions were raised at the hearing, including to the Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman on why Army helicopters operating in the DCA airspace were not transmitting ADS-B Out data.

Something was missed

A Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee panel hearing was held recently focusing on January’s tragic midair collision of an American Eagle aircraft and an Army Helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Among those being questioned was the FAA acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau who admitted that something was clearly missed that led to the crash in Washington, D.C. During the hearing, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran voiced concerns over the fact that in a 13-year-period, “not a single month went by without at least one close call between a helicopter and a commercial jet operating at DCA.”

NTSB Chairperson Jennifer Homendy, who also testified at the hearing, added that “between October 2021 and December 2024 there were over 15,000 close proximity events between commercial aircraft and helicopters at DCA.”

All the data pointed to the dangers of congested airspace around Washington National Airport. Rocheleau said at the hearing,

“Something was missed at the DCA crash. I take that seriously. I take that on myself. I returned to the FAA just two months ago and I care about the National Airspace System for safety and the workforce. I'm dedicated to continuing that work, and I will continue to review what I mentioned before with respect to the hot spots, working closely with NTSB to learn what happened here and to make sure it never happens again.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published its preliminary report on the mid-air collision a few weeks back and called for the closing of helicopter Route 4 near Reagan Airport over intolerable risk.

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Homendy revealed that some routes, in fact, only provide 75 feet of clearance between helicopter aircraft and commercial planes around the Reagan Airport area.

She also believed that the FAA was not solely responsible for the crash and that the Army also had to monitor its helicopters. The NTSB is also investigating this angle.

ADS-B-Out transmission was turned off

Among the things discussed at the hearing was the fact that the Blackhawk helicopter involved in the crash did not have its Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast-Out, or ADS-B-Out, turned on. This technology allows the aircraft to broadcast their position and other data to ground stations and other aircraft in the vicinity. As per ABC News, Homendy noted that of the 16 Lima models of Black Hawk in the fleet, eight had stopped transmitting ADS-B Out between May and November 2023. The reason for this is not known.

When Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman was asked about this, he said that the ADS-B Out has to be turned off for some sensitive operations to avoid compromising safety. However, it was found that the helicopter involved in the crash had its ADS-B Out turned off not only on the day of the incident but 730 days prior to it, according to Homendy.

Rocheleau has said that effective immediately, almost all aircraft operating around Reagan National Airport and in the downtown area must have their ADS-B Out turned on. The only exceptions would be presidential helicopters or high-security sensitive missions.

Changes since the crash

The midair collision in January brought the focus back on the congested airspace around Washington Reagan Airport. Earlier this month, the FAA announced that it was enforcing permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around the airport.

ATC staffing rules have also changed in Washington, D.C., in the aftermath of the crash, and a dedicated controller is now required to oversee all helicopter operations in DCA's airspace.

The crash is still under investigation by the NTSB, which is looking to complete it within a year.