The Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board called for immediate change at Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, saying that the current helicopter route around the airport raises an unbearable risk for aviation security. “
Chairman Jennifer Homendi said NTSB recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration permanently banned the helicopter operations near Reagan when the runways 15 and 33 are in use.
Homendi said at a news conference on Tuesday, “Transport Secretary Sean Dafi has banned helicopter traffic from the operation of the Potomac River in DCA till 31 March. “” And I want to appreciate him for him and appreciate the work of FAA so that too fast action can be taken. “
However, “As the deadline approaches near, we are concerned about the important ability for future midar collisions in DCA,” he said.
Coast Guard Washington examines the wreckage of the aircraft on the Potomac River on January 30, 2025 at Washington, DC.
Petty Officer 1 Class Brandon Giles/ US Coast Guard via Getty Image
Homendi underlined the history of close calls in Reagan and offered a solution as NTSB continues to investigate the devastating crash between an American airlines aircraft and a US military’s black hawk helicopter, which killed all 67 people in both aircraft.
The accident occurred on the night of 29 January when PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ 700 regional jet, which left Wichita, Kansas, was about to land in Reagan (DCA), along with 64 people. Three soldiers of the helicopter were operating an annual training flight and night vision goggle check ride for one of the pilots when the two collided. Both aircraft fell into the Potomac River.
Between October 2021 and December 2024, there were 944,179 commercial operations in Reagan, Homendi said. During that time, 15,214 close incidents took place between commercial airplanes and helicopters, they said.
Encouragement between helicopters and commercial aircraft near Reagan shows that, from 2011 to 2024, a huge part of the reported incidents took place on the landing approach, he said.
The emergency response units assess airplane debris in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport, in Arlington, VA on 30 January 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Homendi said last month that there was no indication in the helicopter crew involved in the January accident that there was an adjacent confrontation.
Homendi said that the soldiers may have done “bad data” from their height to height, as pilots had different height in seconds before the accident. A helicopter pilot thought he was at 400 feet and the other thought he was at 300 feet.
A crane picks up a piece of American Airlines flight 5342 during recovery efforts on 3 February 2025 from the Potomac River at Arlington, VA.
Win McNamee/Getty Pictures
The NTSB said the transmission from the tower directed the helicopter to go behind the aircraft, which could not be heard by the crew as the pilot may have given the key to its radio in the same second and stepped on the transmission from the ATC, the NTSB said.
Black Hawk Crew wore night vision goggles in a full flight, Hamendi said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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