At Reagan National Airport, 67 people lost their lives in a preventable tragedy, and now grieving families demand accountability after learning the FAA knew about 15,000 near misses in the years leading up to the fatal crash.
Quick Takes
- The January crash between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter killed 67 people, prompting victims’ families to confront the FAA with evidence of systemic safety failures.
- An NTSB report revealed over 15,000 near misses at Reagan National Airport between 2021 and 2024, information available to the FAA before the crash.
- Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau admitted failure in preventing the midair collision during a Senate hearing while facing intense scrutiny from lawmakers.
- Clifford Law Offices has filed pre-case claims against the federal government for up to $250 million on behalf of victims’ families.
- The FAA has announced plans to hire 2,000 more air traffic controllers and implement new technology, including AI systems to analyze airspace data.
FAA Faces Scrutiny Over Ignored Warning Signs
Family members of the 67 victims killed in January’s catastrophic midair collision at Reagan National Airport expressed outrage after learning federal authorities had data showing 15,000 near misses at the airport over three years but failed to act. The crash, involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter, has thrust aviation safety into the national spotlight and sparked intense questioning during a recent Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearing where the NTSB’s preliminary findings were discussed. The report conclusively indicated that this tragedy was preventable had proper protocols been followed.
Dailey Crafton, brother of a victim, voiced frustration with authorities’ response. “I was surprised at the lapses of safety protocols that led to this crash,” Crafton stated. “Specifically, even since the crash, certain safety measures that could have been simply implemented still have not been. Accountability is still not being taken by parties who should be held responsible.” This sentiment was echoed by many family members who attended the hearing, where Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau faced intense questioning about how such glaring safety issues could have been overlooked.
Grilled by US Senate over several air accidents involving United States airlines, Federal Aviation Authority said it would ramp up surveillance by hiring 2,000 trainees in 2025 for Air Traffic Control. #IO @FAANews @SenatePress https://t.co/BGH6ejJJGl
— INDIA OUTBOUND MAGAZINE (@indiaoutbound) March 28, 2025
15,000 Near Misses: A Pattern of Negligence
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy delivered perhaps the most damning evidence at the Senate hearing, revealing that “Between October 2021 and December 2024 there were over 15,000 close proximity events between commercial aircraft and helicopters at DCA.” This staggering figure represents thousands of potential disasters that were narrowly avoided, creating a clear pattern that should have triggered intervention long before the January crash. The data was available to the FAA but apparently went unanalyzed until after the fatal collision.
“The failure to share details about near midair collisions, or to perform trend analysis on the history of such incidents, or otherwise take action to address the high number of occurrences, is completely unacceptable. All entities who failed to take action must be held accountable to the victims’ families and to the flying public,” said Tracy Brammeier, an attorney representing victims’ families.
Under pressure, Rocheleau admitted responsibility during the hearing, stating: “Something was missed at the DCA crash. I take that seriously. I take that on myself.” The FAA is now scrambling to implement safety measures that many argue should have been in place years ago. These include requiring most aircraft around Reagan and downtown D.C. to use ADS-B Out technology for better tracking and deploying AI and machine learning to analyze airspace data for potential dangers before they materialize into tragedies.
Legal Action and Demands for Transparency
Clifford Law Offices has filed pre-case claims against the federal government for up to $250 million on behalf of multiple victims’ families. Lead attorney Robert A. Clifford didn’t mince words about responsibility: “This crash simply should not have happened. It is a tragedy the suffering that these families have to go through because no one in the proper authoritative positions bothered to do anything about what was happening at DCA until it was too late.” The firm plans to file formal complaints after a mandatory waiting period expires.
The hearing took another contentious turn when Senator Ted Cruz pressed Brigadier General Matthew Braman over an Army memo regarding ADS-B Out operations. “The Army has a memo August 9, 2024 entitled ADS-B Out Off Operations in the National Airspace. My staff requested that memo from you, and my understanding is your team declined to provide it,” Cruz stated, threatening further action if the document wasn’t turned over. The NTSB is investigating why some Army helicopters had stopped transmitting tracking data, with the reason still unknown.
A Path Forward for Aviation Safety
The FAA has announced plans to hire 2,000 additional air traffic controllers and has already implemented some of the NTSB’s recommendations, including barring helicopter traffic over a specific Potomac River area near the airport. The Department of Transportation has pledged to follow all safety recommendations as the NTSB works to complete its full investigation within a year. Meanwhile, crews continue recovering wreckage from the Potomac River, pieces that may hold additional clues to how this tragedy unfolded.
For the families of the 67 victims, these changes come too late. Their hope now rests on ensuring that increased pressure and media attention will honor their lost loved ones by prompting lasting safety improvements that prevent another such disaster. The outcome of their legal claims and the final NTSB report, expected in early 2026, will likely determine the full extent of accountability for this preventable tragedy that has forever changed dozens of American families.
