Newly released details from a federal investigation reveal the final exchange between a U.S. Army helicopter pilot and her instructor just seconds before their Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Washington, D.C., killing 67 people.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened a three-day hearing on Wednesday, July 30, to examine the January 29 crash, which occurred over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All 64 passengers and crew aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 were killed, along with the three-member helicopter crew.
Among the key revelations: the Black Hawk was flying above its designated altitude and had received two warnings from air traffic control about the approaching jet in the minutes leading up to the collision.
The Army helicopter was on a night training mission returning to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28, was at the controls, accompanied by instructor Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, 39, and Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, also 28.
The NTSB’s presentation included an animated reconstruction of the incident, as well as cockpit transcripts. According to the timeline, about three minutes before impact, Eaves told Lobach, “Come down for me,” noting they were flying at 300 feet—well above their 200-foot limit in that airspace.
The American Airlines flight, en route from Wichita, Kansas, had agreed to a runway change about five minutes before landing. Onboard were several young figure skaters returning from an elite training camp.
Roughly two minutes before the crash, an air traffic controller alerted the Black Hawk crew to the approaching aircraft. The helicopter crew acknowledged and requested “visual separation,” which the controller approved. A second warning followed about 90 seconds later, which again prompted the crew to confirm they had the jet in sight.
Then, just five seconds after that second warning, came the final cockpit exchange.
“Alright, kinda come left for me ma’am, I think that’s why he’s asking,” Eaves told Lobach. She responded, “Sure.”
Eaves added, “We’re kinda out towards the middle,” and Lobach replied, “Okay fine.”
The entire exchange lasted four seconds. At the time, the helicopter was flying at 270 feet. The American Airlines jet, on final descent, was just 320 feet above the ground.
Three seconds later, at 8:48 p.m., the two aircraft collided.
The NTSB hearing continues through Friday as investigators examine whether missteps by the helicopter crew, communication failures, or potential air traffic control lapses contributed to one of the deadliest mid-air collisions in recent U.S. history.
