Aviation News — The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a American Airlines CRJ700 passenger aircraft earlier this year in Washington, D.C., was flying above its permitted altitude due to inaccurate readings from its altimeter, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The tragic crash over the Potomac River on January 30, 2025 killed all 67 people on board, making it the deadliest air accident in the U.S. in over two decades. Investigators now say that a fault in the altimeter systems used in Black Hawk helicopters may have caused the crew to believe they were flying lower than they actually were — up to 40 meters off.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated, “It’s possible the crew saw a different altitude on their instruments than their actual flight level.” At Reagan National Airport, helicopters are allowed only a 23-meter deviation from specified altitudes. Flightradar24 data confirms the collision happened around 90 meters — well above the allowed 60.
The crash has renewed debate over increasingly crowded airspace in the Washington area, where military bases, three major airports, and VIP helicopter traffic converge. The NTSB is now questioning why the Army never tested the altimeters more rigorously or warned pilots about these discrepancies.
Photo Jeroen Vogelaar
