Overview
- Investigators faulted the FAA for allowing helicopter routes near Reagan National to run too close to fixed‑wing approach corridors and for relying on visual separation for helicopters.
- NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said management ignored air traffic controllers’ warnings and criticized a broader culture of waiting for deaths before acting.
- The report calls for broader adoption of ADS‑B collision‑warning technology to give pilots vital seconds to avoid conflicts.
- Data showed a yearslong pattern of risk around the airport, including thousands of close encounters since 2021 and dozens labeled critical.
- The FAA said it will review the recommendations and noted post‑accident safety steps, and the Justice Department has acknowledged basic government liability.