UPDATE: The NTSB released its preliminary report on the midair crash on March 11, 2025
"This NTSB action is highly unusual. Releasing an emergency recommendation for the FAA to take immediate action before completing the investigation is rare,” stated Motley Rice aviation attorney and former Inspector General of the U.S. DOT, Mary Schiavo. “By labeling the helicopter route an intolerable risk to aviation and demanding its immediate, permanent closure, the NTSB is sending a clear message about the urgency of the situation.”
Mary continued, “The NTSB cited 15,214 close calls between helicopters and commercial airplanes from 2021 to 2024. In half of the of these incidents, the helicopter was flying above their altitude restriction. Two-thirds of these incidents occurred at night. The NTSB also noted that this data was readily available to the FAA, which should have been reviewing it for safety trend analysis but apparently was not.”
She added, “Additionally, the conflict alert in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower was clearly audible for 20 seconds before the collision. The FAA ATC was obligated to alert the commercial flight and take immediate action to resolve the conflict, yet failed to do so, highlighting a critical lapse in safety protocol.”
Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, an Army helicopter collided midair with a passenger jet. The jet was American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. It was involved in a crash with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. The aircraft then crash-landed in the Potomac River.
Motley Rice aviation safety advocates and litigators offer insight to the media as the details of the aviation tragedy emerge.
What happened with AA Flight 5342 and the Army helicopter?
Early reports indicate the plane crash happened while the commercial flight, which departed from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Officials have shared with media that three soldiers were on board the military helicopter when the aircraft collided. American Airlines stated at a press conference that 60 passengers and four crew members were on board the regional jet.
A statement released by American Airlines encouraged loved ones of those on board Flight 5342 to call the airline toll-free at 800-679-8215.
“Reagan National has one of the most restricted air spaces in the United States and is one of the most congested with commercial, military and private aviation all trying to occupy a small space. More safety reforms are needed but this investigation will take time, especially since multiple agencies and laws will be involved,” shared former U.S. Air Force navigator and Motley Rice aviation lawyer, Jim Brauchle.
Watch Motley Rice attorney Jim Brauchle discuss the mid-air collision and crash with Fox 5 DC.
Watch Motley Rice attorney Mary Schiavo discuss the mid-air collision and crash with CNN.
Our aviation experience
Our aviation attorneys have extensive experience seeking justice for victims of commercial plane disasters, and military helicopter crashes through investigations and litigation, including a UH-60 Black Hawk crash in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula in November 2020. The firm also investigated and is in current litigation of a MH-60 Black Hawk crash off the Yemen coast after engine failure. The case is against General Electric and other component manufacturers. Motley Rice also litigated a case of an U.S. Army-owned Sikorsky MH-60M Black Hawk helicopter that crashed during a training flight at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Georgia in 2014, which resulted in the death of the pilot and serious injuries to the other crewmembers.
If you or someone you know has information about this crash, that may assist Motley Rice’s investigation of this crash, complete our online form to contact Motley Rice aviation attorney Mary Schiavo and Jim Brauchle.