Black Hawk helicopter in D.C. plane crash had a safety system off, senator says

The Army Blackhawk helicopter that collided with an American Eagle flight over the Potomac River late last month was flying with a safety system turned off, Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters Thursday following a closed door briefing by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

All 67 people on the two aircraft were killed when they collided near Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.

Cruz, a Texas Republican, chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, which has oversight of the airline industry.