NTSB looks into altimeter discrepancies when Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet

Updated: 4:22 PM CDT Jul 30, 2025

Updated: 4:22 PM CDT Jul 30, 2025

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began a three-day hearing in Washington, D.C., to investigate the midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial regional jet that killed 67 people in January.The hearing started with video footage showing the moments before the collision, as the NTSB questioned representatives from the Army and the Federal Aviation Administration, along with expert witnesses. Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair, expressed frustration after the morning session, “Am I satisfied with their responses on the actions that they're going to take? Is that what you're asking? Nope. I am not.”Wednesday morning, investigators focused on the discrepancy between the Black Hawk pilot's altimeter readings and the flight data recorder, which showed an 80 to 100 foot difference. The NTSB separately conducted tests on three other helicopters from the same unit, which revealed similar discrepancies. Scott Rosengren from the U.S. Army explained, "This is the expected errors of of an altimeter's system. So, when we provide that data to an air crew this, there should be an expectation as as I believe they're trained to have that expectation. Plus or minus a hundred feet or so." But NTSB board members questioned whether that tolerance is acceptable in crowded airspace.J. Todd Inman, an NTSB member, said, “You just told me, I believe, all these equipment and manufacturing processes are within the tolerances for safety. How much is that tolerance? I think it should be zero.”Rosengren said that “if he was king for a day” he would immediately retire all the older Black Hawk models like the one involved in this crash and replace them with newer versions of the helicopters that have more accurate altimeters.The hearing will continue Wednesday with discussions on the airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.Chair Homendy highlighted the airspace and the route of the helicopter as a significant concern during conversations with reporters after the first portion of Wednesday's hearing. It's also a concern of Army officials.“The fact that we have less than 500 foot separation is a concern for me,” Rosengren said.Follow the Washington Bureau's coverage of the NTSB hearing:

WASHINGTON —

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began a in Washington, D.C., to investigate the midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial regional jet that

The hearing started with showing the moments before the collision, as the NTSB questioned representatives from the Army and the Federal Aviation Administration, along with expert witnesses.

expressed frustration after the morning session, “Am I satisfied with their responses on the actions that they're going to take? Is that what you're asking? Nope. I am not.”

Wednesday morning, investigators focused on the discrepancy between the Black Hawk pilot's altimeter readings and the flight data recorder, which showed an 80 to 100 foot difference.

The NTSB separately conducted tests on three other helicopters from the same unit, which revealed similar discrepancies.

Scott Rosengren from the U.S. Army explained, "This is the expected errors of of an altimeter's system. So, when we provide that data to an air crew this, there should be an expectation as as I believe they're trained to have that expectation. Plus or minus a hundred feet or so."

But NTSB board members questioned whether that tolerance is acceptable in crowded airspace.

said, “You just told me, I believe, all these equipment and manufacturing processes are within the tolerances for safety. How much is that tolerance? I think it should be zero.”

Rosengren said that “if he was king for a day” he would immediately retire all the older Black Hawk models like the one involved in this crash and replace them with newer versions of the helicopters that have more accurate altimeters.

The hearing will continue Wednesday with discussions on the airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Chair Homendy highlighted the airspace and the route of the helicopter as a significant concern during conversations with reporters after the first portion of Wednesday's hearing. It's also a concern of Army officials.

“The fact that we have less than 500 foot separation is a concern for me,” Rosengren said.

Follow the Washington Bureau's coverage of the NTSB hearing:

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