Overview
- The board approved 74 findings and 50 recommendations after concluding long‑standing gaps aligned to cause the Jan. 29, 2025 collision that killed 67 people.
- Investigators faulted FAA route design that placed helicopters beneath an active approach, heavy reliance on visual separation, ignored close‑call data, and high controller workload.
- The Army was cited for safety management shortcomings, including no flight data monitoring near major airports, limited safety reporting, and inadequate training on barometric altimeter error.
- Collision‑avoidance protections were ineffective at low altitude; an ADS‑B In‑capable airborne system could have alerted the airliner to the helicopter 59 seconds before impact.
- The FAA has closed the hazardous route, restricted helicopter operations near DCA, required military aircraft to broadcast position, reduced hourly arrivals to 30, and added tower staff, while families and lawmakers press for legislation and the NTSB highlights similar risks raised about Burbank that FAA says it has mitigated.