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2mo ago

FAA Enforces Permanent Helicopter Restrictions Near Reagan National Airport

The decision follows a deadly midair collision in January that killed 67 people and raised concerns about aviation safety in the congested D.C. airspace.

A crane retrieves part of the wreckage from the Potomac River, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the river, by the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., February 4, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a news conference following up on the issuance of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report on the mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the Department of Transportation in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Overview

  • The FAA has permanently restricted non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport after a fatal collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet in January.
  • Helicopter Route 4, a key airspace corridor near the airport, has been permanently closed, with alternative routes under evaluation as recommended by the NTSB.
  • Urgent helicopter missions, such as medical, law enforcement, and presidential transport, will still be allowed but must maintain specific distances from airplanes.
  • The FAA will prohibit simultaneous use of certain runways when urgent helicopter operations are underway near the airport to reduce risks of future collisions.
  • An NTSB investigation revealed years of close calls between helicopters and planes near the airport, highlighting systemic safety issues and prompting the FAA to review other airports with high volumes of mixed traffic.