NASHVILLE, TENN. (July 31, 2025) — Following the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) initial hearings into the January 29 mid-air collision that killed 67 people over Washington, D.C., aviation safety attorney Keith Williams is urging the U.S. Army to immediately retire helicopters equipped with outdated altimeters.
At the July 30 hearing, NTSB investigators revealed that the Army helicopter involved in the crash was flying well above its approved altitude. Tests showed its older barometric altimeter significantly misreported its true height—by as much as 130 feet—compared to newer, more accurate radio altimeters.
“This wasn’t pilot error. This was predictable—and preventable—equipment failure,” said Williams, founder of The Keith Williams Law Group and a nationally recognized aviation safety advocate. “Outdated technology in military aircraft doesn’t just endanger soldiers. It puts civilian lives at risk when flight paths overlap.”
The fatal collision occurred over the Potomac River when a military helicopter intersected the path of an American Airlines jet during final approach to Reagan National Airport. The crash has renewed scrutiny of how military and commercial aircraft share airspace near major cities.
“The military has a responsibility to modernize its fleet—not just for combat readiness, but for public safety,” Williams said. “Retiring these helicopters isn’t just the right call—it’s long overdue.”
Williams is also calling for stricter airspace separation protocols between military and commercial aircraft, pointing to a growing number of near-miss incidents tracked by the FAA in recent years.
In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.
For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
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About Keith Williams Law Group
With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
