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The unanswered questions heading into this week's DC midair crash investigation hearings

Six months after a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., investigators are holding three days of hearings to uncover the causes behind the crash.

The unanswered questions heading into this week's DC midair crash investigation hearings

Six months after a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., investigators are holding three days of hearings to uncover the causes behind the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation into that midair collision here in Washington, is holding 3 days of hearings starting today, and they'll be hearing from the military, Federal Aviation Administration, as well as air traffic controllers over what went wrong. An Army helicopter and passenger jet crashed moments before the plane was due to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January. Washington's airspace is among the busiest and most restricted in the country, shared by civilian and military aircraft. The investigation uncovered the helicopter hadn't transmitted location data in more than 2 years. The army says it limits flight location information because their missions are sensitive. The FAA put new restrictions on flights near DC, but close calls with military and other government aircraft have continued. And meanwhile, the NTSB expects to finish its investigation in that midair collision in the next year and *** half. In Washington, I'm Amy Lou.
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Updated: 7:03 AM CDT Jul 30, 2025
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The unanswered questions heading into this week's DC midair crash investigation hearings

Six months after a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., investigators are holding three days of hearings to uncover the causes behind the crash.

Washington News Bureau logo
Updated: 7:03 AM CDT Jul 30, 2025
Editorial Standards
The National Transportation Safety Board is holding three days of hearings starting Wednesday to investigate the deadly midair collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, D.C., six months ago.The Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet moments before the plane was set to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January. The airspace of Washington, D.C., is among the busiest and most restricted in the country, shared by civilian and military aircraft. So far, the investigation has shown that the helicopter had not transmitted location data in more than two years. The Army says it limits flight location information because its missions are sensitive.Since then, the Federal Aviation Administration has put new restrictions on flights near Washington, D.C., but close calls with military and other government aircraft have continued. It's unclear whether the location transmitters in the military aircraft were broken or turned off at the time. It's also unclear why cockpit data suggests the helicopter crew may not have heard some of the directions from the airport tower. There is also conflicting information about how high the helicopter was flying and how that information factored into decisions that led to the crash.Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who chairs the committee that oversees aviation, introduced a bill that would require all aircraft to broadcast their location to air traffic controllers and other planes. Right now, the military is allowed to fly with this data turned off. The NTSB says it has recommended the change for decades.The NTSB expects to finish its investigation in the next year and a half.Watch the latest coverage from the Washington News Bureau:

The National Transportation Safety Board is holding starting Wednesday to investigate the deadly midair collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, D.C., six months ago.

The moments before the plane was set to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January.

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The airspace of Washington, D.C., is , shared by civilian and military aircraft.

So far, the that the helicopter had not transmitted location data in more than two years. The Army says it limits flight location information because its missions are sensitive.

Since then, the , but close calls with military and other government aircraft have continued.

It's unclear whether the location transmitters in the military aircraft were broken or turned off at the time. It's also unclear why cockpit data suggests the helicopter crew may not have heard some of the directions from the airport tower.

There is also conflicting information about how high the helicopter was flying and how that information factored into decisions that led to the crash.

, who , introduced that . Right now, the military is allowed to fly with this data turned off. The NTSB says it has recommended the change for decades.

The NTSB expects to finish its investigation in the next year and a half.

Watch the latest coverage from the Washington News Bureau: