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FAA Permanently Closes Helicopter Route After Deadly Collision Near Reagan National

The move follows NTSB recommendations after a January crash killed 67 and revealed years of close calls in the 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 shut down a key helicopter route near Reagan National Airport after a January collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet killed 67 people.
  • The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found thousands of close calls between helicopters and planes in the area over the past three years and deemed the airspace an 'intolerable risk.'
  • Helicopter traffic near the airport will now face permanent restrictions, with exceptions for urgent missions such as medical, law enforcement, and presidential transport.
  • The FAA will also prohibit the use of two smaller runways when helicopters are conducting urgent operations nearby to enhance safety measures.
  • The agency is reviewing helicopter routes in eight other major cities and using AI tools to identify potential risks in high-traffic areas, including the Gulf Coast.