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NTSB: Black Hawk nearly invisible against D.C. skyline before Jan. 2025 midair collision

An NTSB digital reconstruction of the January 2025 collision between a PSA Airlines CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk over Washington shows the military helicopter was nearly impossible to see against city lights at the time, highlighting limits of visual detection during urban approaches.

Discovered 2026-01-27T11:54:04.778519-08:00 | 2026-01-27T11:54:04.778519-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The reconstruction shows the Black Hawk was effectively invisible against the skyline, challenging reliance on ‘see-and-avoid’ and likely shaping the NTSB’s safety recommendations.
Visual evidence will inform the NTSB’s public determination of probable cause and federal liability discussions [source:1a8be5dd-9080-41c4-a812-8980de539045] as well as the government’s earlier admission of liability.
Findings have immediate implications for urban approach procedures, ATC guidance and military routing near Reagan National, following probes into the role of the bright D.C. skyline.

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