U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz have called for safety audits following a mid-air collision near National Airport (DCA) on January 29, 2025. The request was made in a letter to Mitch Behm, Acting Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, and Lieutenant General Gregory J. Brady, Inspector General of the Department of the Army.
The collision involved American Airlines flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities. "Both audits should specifically address whether improved FAA and Army procedures, communication systems, or adherence to existing protocols would increase aviation safety in the National Capital Region," the Senators wrote.
Senator Cantwell has been actively investigating the incident through her role on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. She has also introduced the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 as a legislative response to the collision.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on March 11 regarding the incident and issued two urgent safety recommendations aimed at deconflicting fixed-wing and rotorcraft traffic in the region. The NTSB reported that from October 2021 to December 2024, there were over 15,000 close proximity incidents between commercial aircraft and helicopters.
In light of these findings, Cantwell and Cruz are requesting concurrent audits by both DOT OIG and Army OIG to investigate existing aviation safety gaps. The DOT OIG audit will assess FAA’s oversight and management of airspace around DCA, while the Army OIG audit will examine coordination with FAA during operations in the National Capital Region.
"Following the horrific accident at DCA that claimed 67 lives...we request that...concurrent audits investigating the concerns noted below," they stated in their letter.
The call for audits highlights ongoing concerns about airspace safety around DCA and aims to prevent future incidents through improved procedures and communication systems.
