New details have emerged about the final moments before a Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet over Washington DC earlier this year. On January 29, the military helicopter and the commercial plane met in midair near Ronald Reagan National Airport, tragically killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.
At a recent National Transportation Safety Board hearing, audio recordings were shared capturing the last conversation between the Black Hawk’s pilot, Captain Rebecca Lobach, and instructor Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves. The pair were conducting a night training flight toward Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
Evidence showed the helicopter was flying higher than allowed near the airport—above 200 feet—reaching altitudes between 250 and over 300 feet. Investigators believe the crew was unaware of this due to altimeter errors, reporting they were flying significantly lower than they really were.
During the 15-minute flight, Lobach and Eaves spoke casually and laughed at times, unaware of the danger ahead. Just minutes before the crash, Eaves instructed Lobach to descend to 200 feet. Meanwhile, air traffic control warned the helicopter twice about the approaching plane, but the crew requested visual separation to navigate safely.
A final instruction from the controller to “pass behind” the jet was not heard onboard due to a microphone issue. Seconds before impact, the pilot and instructor exchanged brief commands, seemingly unaware of the fatal proximity.
Experts at the hearing criticized the outdated altimeters on the Black Hawk and suggested retiring older models. The investigation continues as officials seek to uncover all factors behind this tragic accident.
