A congressional hearing Thursday reinforced the idea that the January midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter that killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft could have been prevented.

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board that is investigating the crash is appearing along with the leaders of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army’s aviation

The passenger jet was cleared for takeoff on Friday afternoon while four T-38 Talons were inbound to Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover.

A Delta passenger plane and an Air Force jet flew narrowly close to one another outside Washington, D.C., on Friday, prompting a collision warning and "corrective instructions" from air traffic controllers.