Cruz Reveals Black Hawk Had Key Safety System Turned off Going Into Deadly Crash

Conservative News DailyFebruary 7, 2025

During a briefing with officials from the Federal Aviation⁣ Governance and the⁢ National Transportation Safety Board, Senator Ted Cruz disclosed ⁤that a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in ‍a collision with a passenger⁤ jet near WashingtonS Reagan Airport had its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) safety‌ system disabled at the time of the ‌incident. Cruz⁢ emphasized that since the flight was a⁢ routine training mission with no critical national security implications, the ADS-B⁢ should not have ‌been turned off.

The helicopter was supposed to fly at a maximum altitude ⁢of 200 feet,but radar data ‍indicated it was‍ at approximately 300 feet,leading to its collision with an American Airlines jet at 325 feet.The crash⁤ tragically resulted in the⁤ deaths of 67 ⁣individuals, including 64 passengers on the jet and three Army personnel on the helicopter. Investigations are‍ ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash, including possible elevation issues ‌related to the Black ⁤Hawk’s operation.⁢

The helicopter, part of the 12th Aviation Battalion, was conducting a mission related to continuity of government, suggesting it may have been involved in evacuation plans for high-ranking officials in emergencies. The incident highlights the importance of adherence to safety protocols, especially when military operations intersect with commercial ‍aviation.

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas revealed Thursday that the U.S. Army helicopter that collided with a passenger jet last week near Washington’s Reagan Airport had a key safety system turned off.

Cruz, who is chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, told reporters after receiving a briefing from Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board officials that the Black Hawk helicopter had its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) turned off.

The ADS-B is a technology that transmits the aircraft’s location to air traffic control and other aircraft in the area.

“This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off,” Cruz said.

The senator said, he “asked the Army to reconsider and assess with what frequency is the Army turning off ADS-B Out on military missions, particularly missions that do not have a sensitive national security component.”

“Now it’s worth noting, the Black Hawk had a transponder, so it would appear on radar, but ADS-B Out is significantly more accurate. The NTSB has recommended ADS-B In and ADS-B Out on all aircraft,” Cruz added.

The chairman also pointed out to reporters, regarding the cause of the crash, “In this instance, it appears the Black Hawk helicopter was flying at a dramatically different altitude than where the helicopter was supposed to be, and the investigation needs to proceed. We need to understand why that is the case.”

The helicopter was supposed to be flying at an altitude of no more than 200 feet, but the air traffic controller’s radar showed it at approximately 300 feet, ABC News reported.

Meanwhile, the American Airlines jet’s flight recorder showed it at 325 feet.

The Jan. 29 collision left 67 dead, including 64 onboard the jet and three Army personnel on the helicopter.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters the day after the accident that the Black Hawk was on a routine night flight training mission involving “continuity of government.”

SecDef Pete Hegseth: Routine retraining involving military helicopter on “Continuity of Government” mission resulted in crash with commercial airplane…pic.twitter.com/SUEfe4D9sM

— Liberty Times & Politics (@dmills3710) January 31, 2025

“The military does dangerous things, it does routine things on a regular basis. Tragically, last night a mistake was made,” he acknowledged, saying a flight elevation issue regarding the Black Hawk was being investigated as the cause of the crash.

Additionally, “NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters it appears based on the cockpit voice recorder that the helicopter pilot was wearing night vision goggles,” according to Reuters.

Bloomberg reported, the Black Hawk was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion, whose mission includes quickly evacuating top U.S. officials to secure locations in the event of an attack on the federal government.

“The government doesn’t disclose details of its evacuation plans for top officials, but they likely involve Raven Rock Mountain, a facility in Pennsylvania that has been used since the 1950s as an alternate command center in the event of a nuclear war,” the news outlet said.