Army Report Finds Systemic Failures Behind Fatal Washington Midair Collision

A U.S. Army report found systemic breakdowns contributed to the 2025 midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people.

The helicopter struck the descending airliner as it approached a runway at Reagan National Airport, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River. The Army report said an airport air traffic controller could have prevented the crash, while also acknowledging failures within the military and other contributing factors.

The report, completed in May and released publicly Thursday, recommends numerous safety measures intended to prevent similar accidents. It also calls for the Army to examine helicopter operations beyond Washington for comparable risks. An Army official told The Associated Press that reviews were underway in other metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles and the Seattle-Tacoma region.

The findings largely reinforce conclusions from the National Transportation Safety Board, whose broader investigation emphasized years of warning signs missed by the Federal Aviation Administration and weaknesses in military safety culture.

Some victims’ families had pressed the Army for months to release the report. Tim Lilley, a former Black Hawk pilot whose son, Sam Lilley, was the jet’s first officer, called for a fuller accounting, citing redactions and the report’s broad assignment of responsibility. The Army said it recognized families’ need for answers and remained committed to transparency.