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Army Report Blames Radio Failures in 2025 Midair Collision

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 3:26 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Army released a 50-page report on the 2025 Washington midair collision.
Lt. Gen. Michael McCurry said two broken radio transmissions prevented the Black Hawk crew from receiving traffic information.
The report found the Black Hawk’s altimeter could err by up to 140 feet and its ADS-B Out failed to broadcast.
Congress is debating two bills that would require ADS-B equipment on military and civilian aircraft.

History

Historical Context

The 2009 Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash near Buffalo, New York, killed 49 passengers and prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to overhaul safety regulations. In 2010 the FAA, with the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation, mandated ADS-B Out equipment for all U.S. aircraft by 2020, a $1.5 billion modernization effort. The Army’s 2025 Washington midair collision report, citing broken radio links and a 140-foot altimeter error on a Black Hawk, mirrors those earlier equipment-failure concerns. Consequently, Congress’s pending ADS-B bills could finally enforce universal transponder use, reducing future collisions and aligning military protocols with civilian safety standards.

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Story summary

The U.S. Army released a 50-page report on the 2025 Washington midair collision.
Lt. Gen. Michael McCurry said two broken radio transmissions prevented the Black Hawk crew from receiving traffic information.
The report found the Black Hawk’s altimeter could err by up to 140 feet and its ADS-B Out failed to broadcast.
Congress is debating two bills that would require ADS-B equipment on military and civilian aircraft.

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