“Turn Now”: Instructor’s Last Command Revealed Before Deadly Helicopter Crash in DC
Devastating new details have emerged from a tragic mid-air collision that shocked the nation earlier this year. On January 29, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet over Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.
Now, a recent hearing by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made public the final words exchanged in the cockpit of the Black Hawk moments before impact—along with findings that may point to serious mechanical and communication failures.
🔊 Last Words from the Cockpit
At the hearing on July 30, investigators revealed the chilling final moments recorded inside the helicopter. The pilot, Captain Rebecca Lobach, 28, was undergoing a nighttime assessment flight with her instructor, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, 39. Also on board was Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara, 28, who was being transported to Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Audio transcripts revealed that the crew appeared unaware of the severity of their flight path. Eaves and Lobach were laughing and conversing casually throughout the 15-minute flight, seemingly not realizing they were on a dangerous course.
Crucially, about two and a half minutes before the crash, Eaves instructed Lobach to “come down for me,” asking her to descend to 200 feet—though the aircraft was flying at 300 feet, well above the altitude permitted in the congested area near Ronald Reagan National Airport.
✈️ Moments Before the Collision
According to a detailed animation presented during the hearing, American Airlines Flight 5342, approaching Reagan Airport from Wichita, Kansas, had been instructed to switch runways due to traffic. The commercial flight complied, but both air traffic control and the Black Hawk crew soon lost full awareness of each other’s positions.
Controllers issued two warnings to the helicopter about the incoming commercial jet. Both times, the Black Hawk crew acknowledged seeing the aircraft and requested “visual separation” so they could navigate around it.
Roughly 20 seconds before the fatal impact, the controller instructed the helicopter to “pass behind” the plane—but that command was never heard by the helicopter crew due to an apparent microphone malfunction.
Five seconds later, Eaves told Lobach, “Alright, kinda come left for me ma’am, I think that’s why he’s asking.”
She replied, “Sure,” followed by another exchange:
Eaves: “We’re kinda out towards the middle.”
Lobach: “Oh-kay, fine.”
Just four seconds later, the two aircraft collided. At the moment of impact, the commercial plane was descending at 320 feet, while the Black Hawk was flying at 270 feet—placing them on a deadly collision path with only 50 feet of vertical separation.
⚠️ A Faulty Altimeter and Systemic Concerns
One of the most alarming findings from the investigation was that the Black Hawk’s altimeter may have been inaccurate, giving the crew the false impression they were flying lower than they actually were.
At several points during the flight, crew members believed they were 100 feet lower than their actual altitude. The NTSB has since tested other helicopters from the same Army unit and found similar barometric altimeter issues.
During the hearing, Scott Rosengren, the chief engineer overseeing the Army’s utility helicopter division, made a stark statement:
“If I were king for a day, I would retire all of the older Black Hawks. The altimeters are simply outdated.”
💔 Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
The tragedy has raised serious questions about aging military aircraft, communication breakdowns between air traffic controllers and pilots, and the risks of military and commercial air traffic sharing congested airspace.
The NTSB hearing continues as investigators work to determine the full chain of failures that led to the worst aviation disaster in the D.C. area in years. Families of the victims, including the 64 passengers aboard Flight 5342, are demanding accountability and urgent changes to prevent similar tragedies.
As the story develops, more evidence may come to light—but for now, the chilling cockpit audio and mechanical warnings paint a heartbreaking picture of how just seconds—and one unheard command—can change everything.