The National Transportation Safety Board has opened public hearings on a January midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard. Investigators found the helicopter was flying higher than it should have been over the Potomac River in Washington. Its altitude readings were not accurate. The helicopter flew above the 200-foot altitude limit before colliding with the plane. The NTSB conducted tests on other helicopters and found similar discrepancies in their altimeters. The investigative hearings continue into day two, focusing on air traffic control and flight procedures.

Three days of investigative hearings on the deadly midair collision between a military helicopter and passenger plane over Washington begin Wednesday morning and may reveal new insights into the crash. The hearings will focus on the actions of the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic controllers, and the Army that may have contributed to the crash that killed 67 people. The crash involved an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport. Aviation attorney Bob Clifford hopes the National Transportation Safety Board will address broader safety concerns in the crowded airspace. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced legislation requiring all aircraft to use ADS-B technology to enhance safety.