If you've opened Google today and seen "67" shooting up the trends list, you're not alone. Searches for the number have spiked worldwide, but it's not tied
to sports scores, memes, or celebrity ages this time. With the 6-7 trend, it is easy for people to confuse it with Gen Z trend. Well, the real reason is anything but fancy. 67 is trending because the US government recently admitted that their actions of an air traffic controller and Army helicopter pilots played a role in causing the January 29 collision between an airliner and a Black Hawk near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. Those killed included a group of elite young figure skaters. Yesterday, December 18, the US government officially admitted partial responsibility for a January 29 mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. The crash involved an American Airlines regional jet (Flight 5342) and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, just short of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. In court filings responding to lawsuits from victims' families, federal lawyers acknowledged failures by an air traffic controller and the helicopter pilots contributed to the deadliest US plane crash in over two decades. Investigators cited multiple issues, including the Black Hawk flying too high (about 278 feet versus the 200-foot limit), possible altimeter errors, missed radio transmissions, and an over-reliance on visual separation. Among the victims were dozens from the figure skating community, including elite young skaters, coaches, and parents returning from a national development camp in Wichita, Kansas. Those lost included former world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were coaching at the time, as well as teenage skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, and members from clubs such as the Skating Club of Boston and the Washington Figure Skating Club. The NTSB’s full report is expected in early 2026, but preliminary findings have already flagged near-misses and risky helicopter routes around the busy airport. As headlines like “US Admits Role in Crash That Killed 67” spread, many people searched simply for “67” to understand the context, pushing the number to the top of global trends. Related searches include the crash date, victim lists, and updates from investigators. This isn’t the first time a number has trended due to tragedy—high-casualty events often trigger similar spikes when news resurfaces. Renewed media coverage and social media sharing amplified interest again today. The admission now opens the door to settlements in ongoing lawsuits and has renewed focus on aviation safety reforms, including tighter restrictions on helicopter routes near DCA. Above all, the trend is a somber reminder of a devastating loss—67 lives cut short, many of them young and full of promise, leaving lasting scars on families and communities.
