WTF FAA

The NTSB has officially released the FINAL REPORT on the tragic mid-air collision near Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) — and the findings may surprise you. In this episode, retired airline captain Captain Steeeve breaks down what the investigators discovered, what went wrong inside one of the most complex airspaces in the world, and why this accident wasn’t simply about one pilot or one decision. We’ll look at the helicopter corridor design, visual separation procedures, ATC workload, communication breakdowns, and the safety layers that failed. Most importantly — what lessons pilots, controllers, and passengers should take away from this tragedy. For business inquiries email us at: captainsteeeve@wearebv.com For press or general questions: peter@541co.com Disclaimer: Captain Steeeve is not a spokesperson for any airline or aviation authority. The opinions expressed in this video are solely his own and are based on his experience as a professional pilot. This analysis is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an official statement from any airline, regulatory agency, or aviation organization.

When I first heard about this incident (the day it occurred) I was shocked by the news, as I’m certain everyone was—a commercial airliner and an army helicopter crashing into each other. What? All those lives lost. A calamity. Of course, I had no idea of the details behind the incident but now that I have a full understanding of the events, I am beyond furious.

Watching the Winter Olympics of 2026, I discovered that Maxim Naumov was personally affected by that fatal crash—he lost both parents that fateful day. So, to see him skate, took on a whole other meaning for me.

MILAN — U.S. figure skater Maxim Naumov carried the memory of his late parents with him to the Olympics on Tuesday night, delivering an emotional, heartfelt short program at the Milan Cortina Games that fulfilled a dream they had long shared together.

Former pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the 67 people killed — more than two dozen of them members of the figure skating community — when American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into a military helicopter on approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport and fell into the icy Potomac River on Jan. 29, 2025.

One of the last conversations Naumov, 24, had with his parents was about what it would take to make the Olympics.

“I’ve been inspired by them since day 1, ever since we stepped on the ice together,” said Naumov, who brought an old photograph of that moment to the kiss-and-cry at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, the little tyke standing between his parents as he stepped foot on the ice for the first time, the three of them all smiling for the camera.

Associated Press release

After hearing Steeeeve’s emotional presentation, I typed the following words in the comments section.

I am completely overwhelmed by the news you presented. Heartbreaking, tragic, insane, and nauseating. This shows a complete lack of understanding and implementation by the FAA. After listening to this, one begins to wonder what their precise job encompasses? Do nothing? get paid? Your duties entail one thing—file everything in a giant circular file cabinet. Come back the next day, and repeat. I thought the health care situation was bad. It is, but this just blows my mind. Total incompetence. Total lack of responsibility. Total lack of common sense. And WE are supposed to entrust our lives to bureaucrats who live behind blinders, thus endangering the lives of everyone who flies in and out of US airspace. Incredulous! I plan on writing my representatives and will be blogging about this incident, later this morning.

My emotions are running on high right now, however I want to say thanks to Captain Steeeeve, the NTSB, and their chair, Jennifer Homendy, for having the courage and fortitude to speak the truth, with the hope of preventing future calamities. I urge you dear reader, to take a moment of your time and call or write to your representatives.

Below is a short video (from earlier in the year) of the chair opposing section 373 of the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA which lets the military fly by different rules than every other aircraft in civilian airspace.

Since that address, the following has taken place. Astonishingly, The House of Representatives refuse to see the scope of urgency, attempting to water down yet another bill. Note: The families of the deceased, refuse to accept the bill as written.

So, what will it take, I ask? Whose toes are they afraid of stepping upon? Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it’s misleading for members of the House to say their package of aviation safety reforms would address the recommendations that her agency made in January to prevent another midair collision like the one last year near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the House bill’s “watered-down” requirements wouldn’t do enough to prevent a future tragedy, and wouldn’t be nearly as effective as a Senate bill that came up just one vote short of passing in the House earlier this week. The full NTSB followed up Thursday afternoon with a formal letter to two key House committees, saying that they can’t support the bill right now

“We can have disagreements over policy all day. But when something is sold as these are the NTSB recommendations and that is not factually accurate, we have a problem with that. Because now you’re using the NTSB and you’re using people who lost loved ones in terrible tragedies,” Homendy said. “You’re using their pain to move your agenda forward.”

Read more here…

By  JOSH FUNK Updated 9:52 PM EST, February 26, 2026

Read the PBS article regarding the Rotor Act

Thanks everyone. I know this is a lot to digest.