Deadly Midair Collision: NTSB Hearing Reveals Altimeter Issue, FAA Failures | JQJO

A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing investigated the deadly January 2024 midair collision near Washington, D.C., killing 67. Key findings revealed a possible faulty altimeter on the Army Black Hawk helicopter, exceeding its authorized altitude. Air traffic controllers at DCA faced pressure to manage high traffic volume, sometimes handling both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft with one controller. The FAA had prior warnings about the risky helicopter flight path but failed to act, leading to NTSB criticism. Subsequently, nonessential helicopter operations around DCA were restricted.