Families of DC Plane Crash Victims Overcome with Emotion as New Video Evidence is Released
Washington, D.C. — July 30, 2025
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) commenced a three-day investigative hearing on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, to examine the tragic midair collision that occurred on January 29, 2025, between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash claimed the lives of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft, marking it as the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001. During the hearing, families of the victims were visibly emotional as newly released surveillance footage of the incident was played, intensifying their grief and underscoring their calls for accountability and aviation safety reforms.
Heart-Wrenching Moments in the Hearing Room
Families of the 64 passengers and crew on the American Airlines regional jet, as well as the three Army soldiers on the Black Hawk, filled the audience at the NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C. Many wore buttons or necklaces adorned with pictures of their loved ones, a poignant reminder of their loss. As the NTSB presented a video animation and newly released surveillance footage capturing the moment of the collision over the Potomac River, several family members broke down in tears. The footage, recorded from the end of the runway, showed the devastating impact that sent both aircraft plunging into the river.
“It’s going to be a gut punch,” one family member told CBS News prior to the hearing, bracing for the emotional toll of reliving the tragedy. Matt Collins, who lost his brother Chris on Flight 5342, attended the hearing and expressed his commitment to advocating for change, stating, “If the shoe was on the other foot and this was me, my brother would be doing everything he could possibly do to make these changes.”
Details of the Crash and Investigation
The collision involved American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., and a Black Hawk helicopter conducting a routine training mission. The NTSB’s preliminary report, released in February 2025, highlighted potential issues with the helicopter’s altimeter, which may have provided inaccurate altitude readings. One pilot believed the helicopter was at 400 feet, while another thought it was at 300 feet, and tests on similar helicopters revealed discrepancies of 80 to 100 feet in altimeter readings. Additionally, the report suggested that the helicopter crew may have missed a critical air traffic control (ATC) transmission instructing them to stay behind the airliner due to simultaneous radio activity.
On the first day of the hearing, the NTSB focused on the helicopter’s altimeters and data systems, as well as the design and management of the airspace around Reagan National Airport. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized the agency’s intent to scrutinize air traffic control procedures, training, and guidance, noting, “We’re going to focus on [air traffic control], so air traffic control and training, guidance, procedures, what was going on in the air that night, and again, that is within FAA’s purview.” The investigation also revealed that a single controller was managing both helicopter and airplane traffic at the time of the crash, a practice permitted by FAA guidelines but described as “not normal” when implemented earlier than usual.
The NTSB released approximately 10,000 pages of evidence, including cockpit voice recordings, flight data transcripts, and ATC communications, providing a detailed timeline of the overlapping transmissions that may have contributed to the tragedy. The board’s findings also underscored systemic issues, with 15,214 close proximity incidents between commercial airplanes and helicopters at Reagan National Airport between October 2021 and December 2024, including 85 instances with less than 1,500 feet of lateral separation and under 200 feet of vertical separation.
Families Demand Accountability and Reform
The families’ grief has fueled their resolve to push for safer skies. Many expressed frustration with the U.S. Army’s lack of transparency, citing a letter sent to Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll that criticized the Army’s refusal to engage with the families of Flight 5342 victims. “The Army’s approach contrasts sharply with the more collaborative stance taken by other organizations involved in this incident and raises serious questions about its commitment to transparency and accountability,” the letter stated.
Dailey Crafton, brother of victim Casey Crafton, attended a Senate hearing on March 27, 2025, and voiced his disappointment with ongoing safety lapses, saying, “I was surprised at the lapses of safety protocols that led to this crash. Specifically, even since the crash, certain safety measures that could have been simply implemented still have not been.” Robert A. Clifford, an aviation attorney representing several victims’ families, filed a $250 million pre-case claim against the FAA and the Army, asserting, “This crash simply should not have happened.”
On the eve of the NTSB hearings, Senator Ted Cruz introduced “The Rotor Act,” legislation that would mandate all aircraft, including military helicopters, to transmit Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) location data when flying, except in specific security scenarios. The NTSB had recommended ADS-B equipage for all aircraft as early as 2008, a measure that could enhance collision avoidance. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy endorsed the legislation, calling it “the right approach,” while noting that the FAA had been urged to implement this requirement nearly two decades ago.
Victims’ Stories Highlight the Human Toll
The crash claimed a diverse group of individuals, including figure skaters, coaches, and family members returning from a U.S. Figure Skating development camp in Wichita. Among them were 16-year-old Spencer Lane and his mother Christine, celebrated members of The Skating Club of Boston, and 14-year-old Franco Aparicio, a rising star in figure skating. Other victims included Kansas City Chiefs superfan Dustin Miller, Howard University law professor Kiah Duggins, and Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, a Black Hawk pilot survived by his wife and young son.
As the hearings continue, the NTSB will explore collision avoidance systems, safety data management, and air traffic control staffing, with witnesses from the Army, American Airlines, and the FAA testifying. The families, while devastated, remain hopeful that the investigation will lead to meaningful reforms. “The NTSB has inspired tremendous faith in our families for the work that they’re doing,” said one family member, reflecting the bittersweet gratitude for the board’s diligence amid their profound loss.
For further updates, the NTSB hearings are being livestreamed, and additional evidence is available online at the NTSB’s website.