WASHINGTON — A dedicated hearing on Tuesday aims to clarify the factors that led to the deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2025, which resulted in 67 fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will likely outline recommendations to avoid future accidents, following the deadliest crash on U.S. soil since 2001.
All aboard an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which ultimately crashed into the icy Potomac River. In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented changes to separate the airspace used by helicopters and commercial aircraft around the capital, making those measures permanent recently. However, further recommendations from the NTSB are anticipated.
'I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again,' stated Rachel Feres, a relative of crash victims. Victims' families continue to advocate for proactive changes in aviation safety protocols.
Young sisters Alydia and Everly Livingston were among the 28 members of the figure skating community that perished in the incident, having attended a national competition in Wichita.
The NTSB has previously identified significant factors leading to the crash, including a poorly designed helicopter route and the Black Hawk operating at an incorrect altitude. Despite a reduction in the number of aviation accidents last year, public concern remains high following several notable near-miss events in the wake of the D.C. collision.
