New reports reveal that crucial tracking technology was disabled in an Army Black Hawk helicopter before it collided with a passenger jet.
Local media sources confirmed that the helicopter’s tracking system was turned off, despite the aircraft being on a routine training mission. Experts have called this an unusual and concerning discovery, as such measures are typically only taken in high-risk situations for security reasons.
In this instance, however, there was no apparent threat. The mission was intended to renew a 28-year-old pilot’s annual certification when the helicopter struck an American Airlines flight as it descended into Reagan National Airport shortly before 9 p.m.
At the time of the crash, the helicopter’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system—a key technology that transmits an aircraft’s position, altitude, and speed—was disabled. This explains why the Black Hawk was not detected, according to Senator Ted Cruz, who addressed the incident in an interview with The New York Times on Thursday.
The ADS-B system also provides pilots with a display of nearby aircraft locations, both in the air and on the runway. Additionally, it helps air traffic controllers avoid relying solely on radar, which can have a delay of several seconds.