On Jan. 29, 2025, a horrible mid-air collision occurred about two miles from the touchdown zone of Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) killing 67 souls. The CRJ was on final approach and cleared to land at DCA. The Black Hawk (PAT25) was on a check ride for a pilot in training along Helicopter Route 1 — a route that follows the Potomac River. For over 20 years helicopter traffic using Route 1 has been perfectly safe, u ntil someone didn’t follow the rules.

As I wrote in prior columns, the fault of this accident would eventually lie with the Black Hawk pilots. It is clear from three days of NTSB hearings that I have been proven correct. ATC and the controllers acted perfectly and follo

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