Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

During yesterday’s NTSB hearing on the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision of a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines CRJ700 about a half mile southeast of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), the board released its <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA25MA108.aspx">probable cause</a> for the accident.
“We determined that the probable cause of this accident was the FAA’s placement of a helicopter route in close proximity to a runway approach path; their failure to regularly review and evaluate helicopter routes and available data; and their failure to act on recommendations to mitigate the risk of a midair collision near [KDCA], as well as the air traffic system’s overreliance on visual separation in order to promote efficient traffic flow without consideration for the limitations of the see-and-avoid concept.”
The NTSB issued 50 safety recommendations, calling for “comprehensive reforms to helicopter route design, air traffic control procedures, safety management systems, data sharing, and collision avoidance technology.” These include 33 to the FAA, eight to the U.S. Army, and others for the Department of Transportation, the Department of War Policy Board on Federal Aviation, and the RTCA.
“This complex and comprehensive one-year investigation identified serious and long-standing safety gaps in the airspace over our nation’s capital,” said NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy. “Sadly, the conditions for this tragedy were in place long before the night of January 29.”

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

NTSB Probable Cause Cites FAA Lapses in DCA Midair Collision

Hearing resulted in 50 recommendations to the FAA, U.S. Army, and other agencies

The NTSB issued 50 safety recommendations, calling for “comprehensive reforms to helicopter route design, air traffic control procedures,” and more.

NTSB Probable Cause Cites FAA Lapses in DCA Collision

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The airport has been closed since Sunday night

CL650 Accident Investigation Continues at Bangor Airport

The accident occurred in freezing, snowy conditions

Fatal Challenger 650 Crash in Maine Claims Six

Gordon Gilbert

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

143 people were killed in 35 business aircraft accidents last year

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David Jack Kenny

Preliminary and final accident reports, January 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: January 2026

Amy Wilder

Training gaps cited by NTSB

Stall Test in Icing Cited in 2024 Hawker 900XP Accident

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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