Federal detectives have actually raised issues of a potential for another fatal airplane crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair collision earlier this year killed 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board provided an upgrade on their investigation into the cause of the disaster which took place on January 29 in Washington.

An American Airlines jetliner and a Black Hawk military helicopter clashed in midair over the Potomac River, killing everyone on board both airplanes.

As part of a preliminary report released on Tuesday, investigators raised concerns of more accidents involving helicopters at the airport.

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said: 'We stay worried about the significant capacity for future mid-air collision at DCA.'

Her concerns revolve around Transport Secretary Sean Duffy relocating to limit helicopter traffic around the location, but that is set to stop at the end of the month.

When police, medical or governmental transportation helicopters should use the area civilian aircrafts are stopped from being in the very same location.

Homendy stated the NTSB is now suggesting that the FAA discover a 'permanent service' for alternate routes for helicopters when 2 of the airport's runways are in usage.

Emergency systems respond after a guest aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia

Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) Jennifer Homendy talks to press reporters about the 29 January mid-air collision

It was likewise exposed on Tuesday that there was warning signs in the lead up to the lethal disaster.

Those penetrating the crash went through 944,179 operations in between October 2021 and December 2024.

It was uncovered that 15,214 'near-miss events' of airplanes getting signals about helicopters remaining in close distance in between October 2021 and December 2024.

The NTSB also said that there were 85 cases where two aircraft where laterally split by less than 1,500 feet, and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet.

Homendy added: 'That data from October 2021 through December 2024, (the FAA) might have used that information any time to identify that we have a trend here and an issue here, and looked at that path; that didn't take place, which is why we're taking action today. But regrettably, lives, and enjoyed ones are grieving.'

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed these findings at a later interview on Tuesday.

Duffy stated: 'I believe the question is when this information is available in how did the FAA not understand. How did they not study the information to say "hello, this is a hot area, we are having near misses and if we do not alter our methods we are gon na lose lives".'

He included: 'That wasn't done, perhaps there was a concentrate on something other than security.'

Duffy would later on added when questioned by a press reporter about the near misses out on that the information had 'p *** ed him off'.

Pictured: Parts of the wreckage seen sitting in the Potomac River after Flight 5342 collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, killing 67 individuals

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Investigators believe that the helicopter involved in the crash may have had inaccurate elevation readings in the minutes before the crash.

The crash most likely took place at an altitude just under 300 feet, as the aircraft came down towards the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limitation for that place.

On Tuesday American Airlines invited the report by the NTSB, saying: 'We're grateful for the National Transportation Safety Board's immediate security suggestions to restrict helicopter traffic near DCA and for its comprehensive investigation.

'We will continue to collaborate carefully with PSA Airlines as it cooperates as an investigative celebration member.'

The helicopter pilots may have likewise missed out on part of another communication, when the tower said the jet was turning toward a different runway, Homendy stated last month.

The helicopter was on a 'check' flight that night where the pilot was going through an annual test and a test on using night vision goggles, Homendy stated.

Investigators believe the team was using night vision goggles throughout the flight.

The Army has stated the Black Hawk crew was extremely experienced, and accustomed to the congested skies around the country ´ s capital.

At the time of the accident, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously keeping an eye on both the helicopter and aircraft traffic.

Those jobs are typically dealt with in between 2 people from 10am up until 9:30 pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New york city Times.

Those jobs are normally dealt with in between 2 people from 10am till 9:30 pm, according to the report.

Surveillance footage drawn from inside the airport captured the moment the 2 clashed in midair

At the time of the collision, a single air traffic controller was at the same time keeping an eye on both the helicopter and plane traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30 pm the duties are normally integrated and left to a single person as the airport sees less traffic later on in the night.

A supervisor reportedly chose to integrate those duties before the arranged cutoff time however, and permitted one air traffic controller to leave work early.

The FAA report stated that staffing configuration 'was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic'.

Reagan National has been understaffed for lots of years, with just 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023 - well below the target of 30 - according to the most current Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan sent to Congress.

The situation appeared to have improved ever since, as a source told CNN the Reagan National control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled.

Chronic understaffing at air traffic control towers is absolutely nothing new, with widely known causes including high turnover and spending plan cuts.

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In order to fill the gaps, controllers are regularly asked to work 10-hour days, 6 days a week.

After the release of the report, former Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation Mary Schiavo deemed the findings as 'unusual'.

She stated: 'This NTSB action is highly unusual. The release of an emergency suggestion asking for the FAA take immediate action, before the completion of the NTSB examination is uncommon.'

The two aircraft had clashed in a substantial fireball that showed up on dashcams of vehicles driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

Less than a month later, on February 17, a Delta traveler airplane crashed-landed upside down in disorderly scenes at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.

Miraculously, everybody on board survived after being suspended upside-down by their seatbelts for numerous minutes until they tentatively started leaving.

The aircraft had been heading to Toronto from Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport with 76 guests and four crew members on board.

Some 21 individuals were required to the healthcare facility for treatment to minor injuries, and Delta has used everyone a no-strings $30,000 payment in payment.

And the aircraft carnage is ongoing - on Sunday, yet another jet crash-landed, this time in a parking lot of a rural Pennsylvania retirement home.

Dramatic video footage revealed the Beechcraft A36TC appear in flames in the parking area of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five individuals were rushed to hospital.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency cars rushed to the scene in Lancaster County as flames engulfed the aircraft and close-by cars.

The plane took off as arranged on Sunday afternoon, however quickly requested to land back on the tarmac because its door had opened.

American Airlines