National Transportation Safety Board

Independent agency that investigates transportation accidents and issues safety recommendations, though it lacks enforcement authority. - Completed investigation, issued final report and 50 recommendations

The National Transportation Safety Board has concluded its investigation into the January 2025 collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River—the deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil since 2001. All 67 people aboard both aircraft died, including 28 members of the figure skating community returning from a national development camp. The NTSB found the crash was '100% preventable' and issued 50 safety recommendations, with 32 directed at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Updated Feb 5

Federal agency investigating transportation accidents and issuing safety recommendations. - Leading Flight 445 investigation; renewing decades-old regulatory recommendations

Ten people died when Bering Air Flight 445 crashed onto Norton Sound sea ice on February 6, 2025. The Cessna 208B was flying 1,058 pounds over its maximum weight for icing conditions—a violation investigators could only discover after the crash because federal regulations don't require single-engine commuter operators to keep load manifests. The pilot received weather advisories warning of moderate icing three hours before takeoff. He flew anyway, overloaded, into freezing rain.

Updated Jan 7

Independent federal agency investigating transportation accidents and pipeline incidents. - Leading multi-agency investigation into explosion cause

Utility crews were already on-site investigating a gas smell when the explosion ripped through Bristol Health & Rehab Center's basement at 2:15 p.m. on December 23. The blast killed two women—nurse Muthoni Nduthu, 52, and one resident—sent 20 others to hospitals, and nearly destroyed an entire wing of the Pennsylvania facility. Staff had reported the odor hours earlier. PECO responded. But survivors say employees continued working despite the gas smell, ignoring warnings until the building exploded anyway.

Updated Dec 26, 2025