Senator Reports Key Safety System Disabled in Army Helicopter Collision with Plane
Sen. Ted Cruz stated that the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast was disabled in the helicopter.
On February 6, Sen. Cruz reported that a crucial safety system was inactive in the U.S. Army helicopter that collided with a plane near Washington in January.
The Black Hawk helicopter had deactivated its automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B), a sophisticated surveillance technology used to monitor aircraft locations. Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, shared this information with reporters following a briefing with officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Since this was a training mission, there was no significant national security reason for the ADS-B to be inactive,” Cruz remarked.
While ADS-B systems typically require authorization from federal aviation authorities, military aircraft are allowed to operate without them, although more advanced operations using these systems do require authorization, according to the FAA.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the Senate Commerce Committee’s ranking member, has raised concerns about why the FAA has permitted military flights to operate with their installed ADS-B equipment turned off since 2018. The FAA has yet to provide a response to inquiries.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy informed reporters on Thursday that the helicopter had been retrieved from the Potomac River, noting that it could take several days for the NTSB to confirm whether the helicopter’s ADS-B was off during the incident.
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On January 29, the helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in the vicinity of the capital. Tragically, all 67 individuals on board both aircraft lost their lives.
Authorities have previously stated that the investigation into the collision is ongoing. They’ve noted that the helicopter was operating at 300 feet, exceeding the maximum altitude of 200 feet for helicopters in that area.
On Thursday, Homendy also mentioned that recordings from the cockpit voice recorder suggest that the helicopter pilot was utilizing night vision goggles.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted that if the pilot was indeed using night vision goggles during a mission at 9 p.m., rather than in the deep of night, it would be unacceptable.
Furthermore, Duffy stated on Fox News that the U.S. government intends to provide air traffic controllers the option to continue working beyond the traditional retirement age.
“We have a plan to eliminate bottlenecks and attract more talented individuals to the air traffic control academy. However, it takes time for graduates to become fully trained in a control tower, with a process that can span from one to three years,” he noted.
“Additionally, I will be extending an offer to air traffic controllers to allow them to work longer. I have the authority to make this offer, which includes increased pay and bonuses, to help enhance the safety of the system and reduce the burden on controllers. I hope they will accept this compelling offer in the near future.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
