US Army knew Black Hawk helicopters had faulty instruments before DC collision that killed 67, report reveals
From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.
Military leadership was aware of faulty altitude-reading instruments on older Black Hawk variants — among them the aircraft involved in the collision — yet took no steps to repair them or alert pilots, according to a scathing Army report released Thursday following months of pressure from victims' families. The disaster, the deadliest US aviation accident in more than two decades, claimed all 67 lives when a Black Hawk struck American Airlines flight 5342 as it approached Reagan National Airport on 29 January 2025. Lt. Gen. Michael C. McCurry concluded that "breakdowns across all layers of conflict management caused this accident," with broken radio transmissions identified as the most critical factor. Former Army Black Hawk pilot Tim Lilley, whose son Sam was the airliner's first officer, said the report still leaves vital questions unanswered.
The 50-page report contained redactions, and blame was spread widely across the Army rather than pinned on named individuals.
"The Army owes the families a full accounting of who was responsible," said Tim Lilley, now a commercial jet captain.
The Army has already begun reviewing every major city where its helicopters are stationed to assess whether similar risks exist elsewhere.