Black Hawk pilot missed instructions before DC crash: reports

(NewsNation) — New details suggest missed instructions played a role in the January mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.
A new report from the New York Times reveals the pilot aboard the Black Hawk failed to heed a flight instructor's warning seconds before the crash.
It appears multiple safety precautions failed the night of the crash, and the discussion about the crash has largely centered around the height of the helicopter.
Border Patrol, Mexican government dismantle cartel lookout posts
The new reporting also indicates that pilot Rebecca Lobach missed an order from her co-pilot and flight instructor Andrew Eaves, who was overseeing the training mission.
The order would have changed the course of the helicopter to avoid the oncoming American Airlines jet.
The pilots also missed key information when they stepped on instructions from flight control, meaning they talked over instructions from air traffic control. That meant they didn't hear directives from the tower that the plane was circling.
In audio that was recorded 20 seconds from the crash, the tower asked the Black Hawk if they had the plane in sight and told them to pass behind the plane. The helicopter pilot requests visual separation to use their own visuals instead of direction from the tower.
The tower approved visual separation, but it was too late. Seconds later, you can hear commotion in the tower, and then you can hear the reaction to the impact.
3 American children deported with their mothers, lawyers say
The National Transportation Board has corroborated some of this. In February, they said the Black Hawk may not have heard the command because they had stopped on the audio where air traffic control told the Black Hawk helicopter twice that the plane was changing runways, was circling and would be landing.
'A radio transmission from the tower was audible on the CRJ CVR, informing the Black Hawk that traffic just south of the Wilson Bridge was a CRJ at 1200 feet, circling to runway three. CVR data from the Black Hawk indicated that the portion of the transmission stating the CRJ was circling may not have been received by the Black Hawk Crew,' NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said. 'We hear the word circling in ATC communications, but we do not hear the word circling on the CVR of the Black Hawk.'
All of which adds to the complicated picture of what happened that night.
'The Army continues to participate in the NTSB investigation and looks forward to opportunities to implement the report's recommendations,' a spokesperson from the Army told NewsNation. 'We are committed to ensuring the safety of air operations anywhere we operate and will continue to comply with FAA requirements and restrictions to enhance flight safety while supporting mission readiness.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

New York Post

8 hours ago

• New York Post

Padilla claims Noem clash wasn't planned stunt: ‘rhetoric compelled me'

California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla insisted Saturday that he didn't pre-plan his heckling of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles — claiming that the stunt that got him handcuffed was a spur of the moment attempt at congressional oversight. Padilla argued in an interview with MSNBC hosts Eugene Daniels and Jonathan Capehart that Noem's 'rhetoric compelled' him to approach her lectern at a press conference and interrupt. Padilla was removed from the June 12 event after he pushed against law enforcement officers who blocked him and shouted, 'I'm Senator Alex Padilla! I have questions for the secretary!' He appeared on MSNBC to respond to Vice President JD Vance, who last week referred to him as 'Jose' Padilla and accused him of 'pure political theater' in his protest of Trump administration immigration enforcement policies. 5 Sen. Alex Padilla was handcuffed June 12 after attempting to confront DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. AP 5 Padilla pushed back against law enforcement officers as he tried to reach Noem's lectern. AP The VP's office explained the first-name error by saying Vance 'must have mixed up two people who have broken the law.' 'He knows my name,' Padilla griped to MSNBC. 'Sadly, it's just an indicator of how petty and unserious this administration is.' 5 Noem was discussing an immigration crackdown and local protests against immigration officials. AP 5 Vice President JD Vance accused Padilla of staging 'political theater.' Getty Images Padilla claimed that he was merely attempting to exercise his congressional duties during his confrontation with Noem. 'Part of our job is oversight and accountability — exactly what this administration does not want, and so they will try to throw any hurdle, any roadblock, to keep us from our oversight and accountability role. That's all I was doing, right?' the Democrat said 'That press conference, as you know, I did not barge in. I was escorted in. I did not lunge at the secretary… I had the audacity of trying to ask a question,' he said. 5 Democrats have denounced Padilla's brief detention. via REUTERS 'I heard there was this press conference, asked to join, they opened the door for me and I sat quietly on the side until the rhetoric compelled me to speak up — not just as a senator, but as an American,' Padilla added. 'Just the notion that they're suggesting that it's their job to liberate Los Angeles from our duly elected mayor and governor. It is too much.' The previously little-known senator was appointed to his position in 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) to fill the vacancy created by Kamala Harris becoming vice president. He was elected to a full six-year term in 2022.

Newsweek

11 hours ago

• Newsweek

Gavin Newsom Challenges JD Vance: 'How About Saying It to My Face?'

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday challenged Vice President JD Vance to a debate after the vice president visited Los Angeles and accused him of "egging on" violent disorder in the city. In a post on his X, formerly Twitter, account, the governor wrote: "...Since you're so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face?" Newsweek contacted Vance for comment on Saturday via email to the White House press office outside of regular office hours. Why It Matters U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have expanded their operations in Los Angeles and across the country as President Donald Trump seeks to deliver on his campaign promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in United States history. ICE conducted raids in Los Angeles and faced large protests in the city that largely remained peaceful with some instances of violence that prompted Trump to order the deployment of 4,000 members of California's National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines to assist in stopping violence, even as Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass insisted local law enforcement had the matter under control and a legal battle has pursued. The raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, but critics have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants by federal authorities as well as the tactics used by immigration agents during the raids. What To Know During his visit to Los Angeles on Friday to meet with troops, including Marines who have been deployed to protect federal buildings in the city, Vance said rioters had been "egged on" by Newsom and Bass, telling reporters: "The president has a very simple proposal to everybody in every city, every community, every town whether big or small. If you enforce your own laws and if you protect federal law enforcement, we're not going to send in the national guard because it's unnecessary. He added: "But if you let violent rioters burn great American cities to the ground, then of course we're going to send in federal law enforcement to protect the people the president was elected to protect." Vance also referred to Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was handcuffed and forcibly removed from a press conference DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was holding in Los Angeles earlier this month, as "Jose Padilla." Noem has said Padilla did not identify himself when he arrived at the conference, but Padilla disputes the claim. Responding on X, Newsom wrote: "Hey @JDVance — nice of you to finally make it out to California. Since you're so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face? Let's debate. Time and place?" In a separate X post, the governor shared a clip of Vance calling Padilla "Jose Padilla," adding: "JD Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate. Calling him 'Jose Padilla' is not an accident." California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks on March 26 in Los Angeles. Vice President JD Vance addresses the press following a tour of the multiagency Federal Joint Operations Center at the Wilshire Federal Building on June... California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks on March 26 in Los Angeles. Vice President JD Vance addresses the press following a tour of the multiagency Federal Joint Operations Center at the Wilshire Federal Building on June 20 in Los Angeles. More Frazer Harrison/WireImage/Scott Olson/GETTY What People Are Saying Referring to the Padilla incident, a Vance spokesperson previously told Newsweek that: "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said: "Mr. Vice President, how dare you disrespect our senator. You don't know his name," Bass questioned. "But yet you served with him before you were vice president and you continue to serve with him today, because the last time I checked, the vice president of the United States is the president of the U.S. Senate." She added: "You serve with him today and how dare you disrespect him and call him 'Jose.' But I guess he just looked like anybody to you. Well, he's not just anybody to us. He is our senator." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social last week: "I campaigned on, and received a Historic Mandate for, the largest Mass Deportation Program in American History. Polling shows overwhelming Public Support for getting the Illegals out, and that is exactly what we will do. As Commander-in-Chief, I will always protect and defend the Heroes of ICE and Border Patrol, whose work has already resulted in the Most Secure Border in American History. Anyone who assaults or attacks an ICE or Border Agent will do hard time in jail. Those who are here illegally should either self deport using the CBP Home App or, ICE will find you and remove you. Saving America is not negotiable!" What Happens Next? Vance has yet to respond to Newsom's offer of a debate and it remains to be seen if he will do so. In December 2023, Newsom debated against Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis after the two went back-and-forth on their policies. Meanwhile, a U.S. appeals court on Thursday unanimously blocked a lower court ruling that put Newsom back in control of National Guard troops that Trump deployed to Los Angeles. The appeals court ruled that the president can keep control of the guardsmen while legal proceedings in the case continue.

Yahoo

12 hours ago

• Yahoo

Investigators reveal disturbing details surrounding private jet crash that killed The Devil Wears Prada drummer, 5 others

The runway lights that would have helped guide a doomed private jet carrying The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams and music industry big shot Dave Shapiro before it crashed in San Diego hadn't been working since 2022, federal investigators revealed. The jet was also coming in too low in foggy weather and struck power lines as it attempted to descend into the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, according to the investigators. The details on the May 22 crash that killed all six passengers were laid bare in the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report published Wednesday. In addition to the lower-than-average descent and non-existent runway lights, the NTSB determined several other factors also led up to the tragedy — including the pilot not discussing alternate airport weather conditions with the air traffic controller. The pilot had acknowledged that weather conditions weren't ideal and debated diverting to a different airport while discussing the visibility with the controller, according to audio. But the pilot declared 'I think we'll be alright' before going ahead with the landing attempt. The FAA had posted an official notice for pilots that the runway alignment lights were out of service, but NTSB investigators noted that had been the case since 2022 due to delayed wasn't immediately clear if the pilot, who had been based at the airport, knew the lights were out of service at the time. The NTSB added, too, that the plane was only about 60 feet above the ground — almost 200 feet lower than required — when it struck the power lines. An official cause of the crash hasn't yet been determined. The NTSB's final report will be issued later this year. With Post wires