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A tragic collision between a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet near Washington DC has shocked almost everyone. While the rescue operations are still underway at the Potomac River, new reports have suggested that the military aircraft was “not broadcasting ADS-B,” as per ADSBexchange.
For the uninitiated, ADS-B stands for “Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast.” It is a modern aviation surveillance technology used to track an aircraft’s data, including its location, velocity, and altitude. According to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), ADS-B “combines an aircraft’s positioning source, aircraft avionics, and a ground infrastructure.”
The data is further employed to create a “surveillance interface” between the Air Traffic Control tower and an aircraft. ADS-B's multi-faceted approach to procure data makes it comparatively more advanced and precise than traditional radar systems. Furthermore, it has two distinct services – ADS-B Out and ADS-B In.
ADS-B Out allows aircraft to broadcast information such as their location, altitude, and more to receivers like ATC towers or other aircraft. On the flip side, ADS-B In provides pilots with information about other aircraft. Although ADS-B In is not mandatory, ADS-B Out has been mandatory for all aircraft in the US in most airspaces since January 1, 2020.
However, the Black Hawk helicopter that clashed with a commercial plane on Wednesday night was broadcasting MLAT (Multilateration) instead of ADS-B. It is a standard technology that the military uses to track their aircraft instead of using ADS-B.
According to Flightradar24, MLAT typically requires more than three receivers for tracking. Thus, services like Flightrader24 usually calculate MLAT at higher altitudes for better coverage.
Black Hawk helicopter collided with a regional jet as the latter approached Reagan Washington Airport
On January 29, 2025, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet with 60 passengers and four crew members onboard departed from Wichita, Kansas. Around 09:00 pm. The plane was approaching Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter mid-air. After the clash, both aircraft fell into the Potomac River.
The regional jet was being operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines. After the incident, the FAA also announced the start of an investigation on its side. The federal agency confirmed that it will collaborate with NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board), which will lead the investigation.
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As many as 300 first responders reached the crash site on Wednesday night for the rescue operations. The aid agencies are still involved in the rescue efforts, while 67 are feared to be dead. Out of 67, the first responders have recovered 30 bodies from the river as of Thursday morning. For those unaware, the Black Hawk helicopter had three occupants apart from the 64 aboard the American Airlines jet.
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