Senators Demand Answers from U.S. Army Over Deadly Helicopter Crash

Two U.S. senators have called on the Army to explain its failure to use a key safety system during training flights after a tragic mid-air collision in January killed 67 people. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz and Senator Jerry Moran urged Army Aviation leaders to testify at a March 27 hearing on the crash, in which an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet. Investigators revealed that the Black Hawk’s ADS-B system, a critical technology that broadcasts an aircraft’s location, was turned off at the time of the accident.

The senators also question how frequently the Army transports high-ranking officers by helicopter and how often it disables ADS-B, a practice allowed for military aircraft. Airlines for America, a major U.S. airline group, has demanded that military aircraft be required to use ADS-B near large airports to prevent collisions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy has agreed to testify at the hearing, alongside officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Army Aviation.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that discussions with the Pentagon were ongoing regarding the mandatory use of ADS-B. Last month, he criticized unnecessary military flights, particularly for high-ranking officials. “If we have generals flying helicopters for convenience through this airspace, that’s not acceptable. Get a damn Suburban and drive,” Duffy remarked, underscoring concerns over the misuse of military resources and the need for stricter aviation safety measures.

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