The advocacy group Families of Flight 5342 issued a scathing rebuke of the U.S. Army last week in its latest “Government Response Scorecard,” citing inadequate communication, lack of transparency, and absence of meaningful reform following the January 29 midair collision over Washington, D.C., that claimed 67 lives.
The collision involved American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. All passengers and crew aboard both aircraft died in the crash, which occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA).
According to the scorecard, updated exactly 100 days after the accident, the Army has “offered no explanation, minimal engagement with families, and no sign of reform.” The group also noted a recent incident involving another Black Hawk from the same battalion, which “triggered another dangerous incident,” underscoring concerns about systemic issues within the branch’s aviation operations.
Families of Flight 5342 are calling for the Army to “publicly explain what went wrong, engage directly with families, and announce a real plan for operational and cultural safety reform.”
This tragedy comes amid a reported increase in serious Army aviation mishaps. The Army recorded 15 Class A aviation incidents in fiscal year 2024—the highest in a decade—compared to nine in fiscal year 2023 and four in 2022. Class A mishaps involve the loss of life or damages exceeding $2.5 million, according to military online news service Task & Purpose.
Tim Lilley, who lost his son on Flight 5342, told FLYING last week that the Army has been “stonewalling” him. Lilley spent decades as a Black Hawk pilot and frequently flew around the D.C. area.
Better Reviews
In contrast to the Army’s failing grade, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) received an “excellent” rating for its transparency and thorough investigation, while the FAA was marked as “needs major improvement” for its lack of urgency and transparency in addressing systemic issues.
On Thursday, the Department of Transportation unveiled a sweeping plan to overhaul air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure in the U.S. Several family members of the victims were in attendance at the event.
