Accidents
NTSB Hearing Addresses Complex D.C. Airspace Flight Ops
Helicopter routes around KDCA have no mandatory boundaries
Route of PAT 25 Black Hawk and PSA Airlines CRJ700
The routes of the PAT 25 Black Hawk (yellow) and PSA Airlines CRJ700 (green) during the Jan. 29, 2025, midair collision in Washington, D.C. © NTSB

Witnesses were asked about the complex airspace surrounding the Washington, D.C. area, the issue of military and civil helicopters using different frequencies, and why critical information was not presented on the Baltimore-Washington helicopter route chart during the second panel of the three-day NTSB hearing on the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) between PAT 25, a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L, and PSA Airlines CRJ700. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy raised her voice at one point while questioning the FAA about why recommended warnings had not been added to that chart.

Army chief warrant officer and former standardization instructor David Van Vechten was asked about the advantages and disadvantages of airplane and helicopter traffic being on different frequencies.

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