The Army helicopter that collided with a commercial plane over Washington, D.C., in January had incorrect altitude readings, which contributed to the aircraft getting too close, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) findings.
The NTSB kicked off the first day of hearings in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the Jan. 29 crash between an American Airlines plane from Wichita, Kansas, and a Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport that left 67 people dead.
Air traffic controllers reportedly warned about the hazards of helicopter traffic near the airport for years leading up to the crash, but concerns raised about the Black Hawk helicopter’s route were not addressed. The Federal Aviation Administration also allegedly did not make route changes or warn pilots, despite 85 near misses in the past three years at the airport.
“It’s so bureaucratic,” NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said during the hearing, adding, in part, that “people are so critical of the federal government because you can’t ensure safety.”
Representatives of the Army and FAA sought to deflect responsibility during the hearing. (AP)
The bill would revoke an exemption on ADS-B transmission requests for Department of Defense aircraft.
Homendy said her agency has been recommending a move like that for decades after several other crashes.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he wants to discuss “a few tweaks” but that the bill is “the right approach.” He also said that the Biden administration “was asleep at the wheel” amid dozens of near-misses over Washington.
