Disaster in D.C.: Military Helicopter Ignored Air Traffic Control Before Fatal Crash

A catastrophic failure in communication appears to have played a role in one of the deadliest U.S. aviation disasters in recent history. A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter failed to respond to air traffic control just moments before colliding mid-air with American Airlines Flight 5342, sending both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River and claiming 67 lives.

Publicly available air traffic recordings reveal that air traffic controllers made multiple attempts to warn the Black Hawk pilots about the approaching commercial airliner. Instead of responding, the helicopter remained silent, leading to a fiery mid-air collision that could have been avoided.

Did This Disaster Expose a Bigger Problem?

The crash has reignited concerns about overcrowding and near misses at Reagan National Airport (DCA), a problem lawmakers have ignored for years. Even President Donald Trump weighed in on his Truth Social platform, demanding answers:

“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane? This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed the sentiment that the tragedy was entirely preventable, while top Senate Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine—who have long been aware of airspace safety concerns—are now scrambling to find answers they should have demanded years ago.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, but serious questions remain. Why did the military helicopter ignore ATC? Was this a procedural failure, or something worse?

With public safety on the line, America deserves answers.

Source: Review Journal