The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will impose restrictions on helicopter traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., following the fatal collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jetliner earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Friday.
“Today’s decision will immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” Duffy said in a post. “The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system, and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust.”
The restricted area will cover Memorial Bridge to South Capitol Street Bridge, excluding the Tidal Basin; Haines Point to Wilson Bridge; and the airspace above the airport, Duffy explained in his post.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman provided further details during a briefing on Thursday, stating that helicopters in Washington operate within designated zones or tracks.
“This one was transitioning from track one to four as part of their normal procedure,” he noted. “If you live in D.C., you see a lot of helicopters going down into this area. So there’s a very well-defined system.”
The tragic collision occurred on Wednesday night when American Eagle Flight 5342 was seconds away from landing at Reagan National Airport.
FAA To Place Restrictions on Helicopters
All 64 passengers on the plane and all three people aboard the helicopter lost their lives. This incident marks the first fatal commercial airline crash in the U.S. in more than 15 years and the deadliest since 2001.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated on Thursday that it remains unclear “why the military aircraft came into the path” of the jetliner.
On Friday, Isom expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump “for his leadership on aviation safety,” adding, “I applaud him, Secretary Duffy, and the Administration for taking quick and decisive action today to restrict helicopter activity around DCA.”
Investigators continued their probe into the crash on Friday, examining factors such as the altitude of the aircraft, staffing levels, and communications with air traffic controllers.
The American Airlines aircraft, a regional CRJ700 arriving from Wichita, Kansas, was at an altitude of about 300 feet on its final approach when it collided with the Black Hawk helicopter.
FAA regulations require helicopters operating near Reagan National Airport, which frequently travel between military bases, the Pentagon, and other key locations, to maintain a maximum altitude of 200 feet within the designated area.
