Key safety system was turned off in US Army helicopter that collided with American Airlines jet

WASHINGTON – A key safety system was turned off in a US Army helicopter that collided with an American Airlines regional jet last week near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.

US Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Cruz said the Black Hawk helicopter had turned off its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which is permitted for military aircraft.

“This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off,” he said after a briefing by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In the deadliest US air disaster in more than 20 years,

the helicopter and airplane collided on the night of Jan 29,

with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, killing 67. The helicopter was flying about 30.5m over the maximum height it was allowed for that route, the NTSB said earlier.

ADS-B is an advanced surveillance system to track aircraft location. Mr Cruz said the helicopter had a transponder so it would appear on radar, but ADS-B is significantly more accurate.

Last week, US Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the committee, questioned why the FAA has since 2018 allowed military flights to fly with their installed ADS-B equipment turned off.

Mr Cruz said he had asked the FAA to conduct a review of helicopter routes near other congested airports.

In the aftermath of the crash, the FAA imposed

significant restrictions on helicopter flights around the airport

until at least late February, and two of the lesser-used runways remain closed. When police, medical or presidential transportation helicopters must use the airspace, civilian planes are not allowed to be there, said an FAA advisory.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy questioned some non-essential military helicopter trips. “If we have generals who are flying in helicopters for convenience through this airspace, that’s not acceptable. Get a... Suburban and drive – you don’t need to take a helicopter,” he said. REUTERS