National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy on Friday told reporters that it is possible the crew of a military helicopter did not hear critical commands from air traffic control ahead of its collision with a passenger plane.

The fatal plane crash, which killed all 67 people on the plane and helicopter, occurred last month near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The incident has prompted heavy criticism of U.S. Air Traffic Control, but a federal investigation into the collision is still ongoing.

Homendy said a recording from the Black Hawk helicopter cockpit indicated that there was an incomplete radio transmission, which may have left the helicopter's crew without understanding that it needed to move to avoid the plane.

“That transmission was interrupted -– it was stepped on,” she said, which could have left them unable to hear the words “pass behind the [plane]" because the helicopter’s microphone key was pressed at the same time, per the Associated Press.

The chairwoman also said the helicopter pilot was on an annual test flight, which includes a test of its night vision goggles, and therefore the whole crew could have been wearing night vision goggles throughout the entire flight.

Homendy additionally said the collision likely occurred at approximately 325 feet in the air, which is outside of the helicopter's 200-foot limit for the area. But there also appears to be conflicting information on how high the helicopter was, with the helicopter’s pilot reporting they were then at 300 feet, but the instructor pilot saying it was 400 feet.  

The chairwoman added that the information, and the board's investigation, is still in its early phases. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.