Senator reveals key safety system turned off before deadly helicopter crash

In a tragic incident near Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle flight collided over the Potomac River. This collision occurred late last month, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft. Following a closed-door briefing with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, Senator Ted Cruz revealed that the helicopter had its Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) system disabled at the time of the crash. The ADS-B system is crucial for aircraft to communicate their positions and avoid in-flight collisions. Cruz emphasized that since this was a training mission, there was no compelling national security reason for disabling the system, raising questions about the decision made by the helicopter crew. The aftermath of the tragedy prompted the FAA to prohibit the sharing of airspace between helicopters and airplanes over the Potomac River until March 31. The Chair of NTSB, Jennifer Homendy, noted that the investigation would confirm whether the helicopter was equipped with the ADS-B technology and if indeed it was functioning at the time of the incident. This highlights major regulatory concerns and the procedures surrounding military aircraft operations, particularly why they might operate with critical safety features turned off, which could have contributed to such a devastating accident.