5 hours ago
3
Sean Duffy, recently appointed as Secretary of Transport under President Donald Trump, is facing mounting scrutiny following a mid-air collision over Washington, DC, involving a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane near
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
(DCA).
The Deadly Collision
The Black Hawk helicopter, operated by the 12th Aviation Battalion from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was conducting an annual proficiency training flight when it collided mid-air with an
American Airlines PSA aircraft
attempting to land.
The 12th Aviation Battalion provides helicopter transport and technical rescue support to the National Capital Region. At the time of the incident, both aircraft were reportedly following standard flight patterns.
“Last night, the helicopter was in a standard pattern … The American Airlines flight coming in to land was in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA. So this was not unusual.”
— Sean Duffy, US Secretary of Transport
However, the reason why the military helicopter entered the passenger jet’s path remains unknown.
Eyewitnesses and Air Traffic Control Audio
A video captured by EarthCam shows the moment of impact, with the aircraft colliding mid-air and erupting into flames.
Eyewitness Ari Schulman, who was driving at the time, described seeing the plane appear normal before it suddenly banked sharply to the right, past 90 degrees, followed by a bright yellow glow and a stream of sparks.
Air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net, obtained by CNN, raises questions about flight coordination:
- Air traffic controller: “PAT 2-5, do you have the CRJ in sight?”
- Controller: “PAT 2-5, pass behind the CRJ.”
- Helicopter pilot: “PAT 2-5 has aircraft in sight, request visual separation.”
Less than 13 seconds later, the collision occurred. The recording captured gasps and a shocked reaction from controllers in the tower.
Military Investigation and Flight Safety Concerns
Following the crash, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the 12th Aviation Battalion is on an operational pause until a full review determines whether the helicopter was in the correct air corridor and altitude at the time of the collision.
Meanwhile, Duffy is facing intense pressure over his handling of
air traffic safety regulations
, especially in one of the busiest airspaces in the country.
Sean Duffy Under Fire
As Secretary of Transport, Duffy is responsible for overseeing national
aviation safety standards
, and critics argue that his response has downplayed the severity of the crash. With questions swirling about military and civilian flight coordination, calls are growing for Duffy to review air traffic management protocols to prevent further tragedies.
All takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport were halted until 11 a.m. on Thursday, with passengers urged to check with airlines for cancellations and delays.
As investigations continue, Duffy’s ability to lead the Department for Transport is being called into question, with critics demanding a full accountability report on what went wrong in Washington’s skies.
