A Black Hawk helicopter crash near Washington, D.C. was caused by a shocking act of disobedience, according to a bombshell investigation. In February 2024, two Army helicopters collided during a training mission, leaving two heroic service members dead.
New details reveal the pilot ignored repeated, urgent commands from a flight instructor to abort a dangerous landing attempt. Instead of pulling up, the pilot pressed forward, causing the UH-60 Black Hawk to fatally collide with another aircraft operated by the 12th Aviation Battalion.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the pilot’s refusal to “go around” led directly to the midair collision. The catastrophic impact occurred over a golf course in Waldorf, Maryland, just 25 miles south of Washington, D.C.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Taylor Galvin and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Luke Gilbert lost their lives in the crash. Galvin, a veteran of multiple combat tours, and Gilbert, a highly respected instructor, were both based at Davison Army Airfield in Virginia.
The investigation ruled out weather and mechanical failure, placing full responsibility on human error and a devastating breach of safety protocols. Flight data and cockpit recordings exposed how the critical warnings were ignored in the final seconds.
Military officials announced sweeping changes to flight training procedures, emphasizing stricter enforcement and oversight. The Army has not yet named the pilot pending internal disciplinary actions.
Heartbroken families are demanding accountability and urgent reforms to protect future service members from similar tragedies.
