The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued an urgent call for changes at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after January’s tragic mid-air collision that claimed 67 lives. The agency warns that existing helicopter routes around the busy airport pose an “intolerable risk to aviation safety.”
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy announced the recommendations, urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to permanently ban helicopter operations near Reagan when runways 15 and 33 are in use and to establish alternative flight paths. In response, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the Department of Transportation would immediately enforce the restrictions, although some adjustments may be made. The temporary ban initially imposed after the crash was set to expire at the end of March.
Families of the victims issued a statement emphasizing that the crash was a symptom of systemic failures in aviation safety. “This was not an isolated incident,” they stated. “Had the necessary reforms been in place sooner, Flight 5342 would have landed safely, and our loved ones would still be with us.”
Homendy detailed a history of close calls at Reagan, highlighting the ongoing NTSB investigation into the catastrophic collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The accident occurred on the night of January 29, when the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, carrying 64 passengers from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter conducting a training flight using night vision goggles. All aboard both aircraft perished.
Between October 2021 and December 2024, Reagan Airport saw 944,179 commercial operations. During that period, there were 15,214 close-proximity events between commercial aircraft and helicopters, defined as lateral separation of less than one nautical mile and vertical separation of under 400 feet. Alarming statistics show 85 instances where separation was even tighter—less than 1,500 feet laterally and 200 feet vertically.
The NTSB noted that helicopters flying the “Route 4 helicopter corridor” at its maximum authorized altitude of 200 feet risked having as little as 75 feet of separation from an approaching aircraft landing on Runway 33. Homendy condemned this as “an intolerable risk to aviation safety.”
“It is devastating that a tragedy of this magnitude had to occur before action was taken,” she said. “There were clear warning signs—yet safety improvements were delayed.”
American Airlines issued a statement expressing its grief and support for the NTSB’s recommendations. “We continue to mourn the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 5342. We appreciate the NTSB’s urgent safety recommendations and its thorough investigation.”
Homendy further revealed that, between 2011 and 2024, the vast majority of reported near-misses at Reagan occurred during aircraft landing approaches. At least once a month, Reagan recorded a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) resolution advisory—the most severe type of warning, which requires immediate evasive action to avoid a crash. Two-thirds of these incidents occurred at night.
The ongoing investigation suggests that the Black Hawk pilots may have received inaccurate altitude data. The NTSB found that, in the moments before the crash, one pilot believed the helicopter was at 400 feet while another thought they were at 300 feet. A miscommunication between the control tower and the helicopter crew may have contributed to the tragedy. The pilot might have inadvertently overridden an air traffic control (ATC) transmission instructing the helicopter to stay behind the plane.
Duffy also criticized the FAA and the previous administration for failing to identify aviation “hot spots” sooner. He announced that the FAA is deploying artificial intelligence tools to analyze airspace data and detect high-risk zones at airports. These AI systems are currently active at 12 airports, with plans for nationwide implementation.
“If another situation like Reagan exists elsewhere, our AI tools will identify it before disaster strikes,” Duffy stated.
He also pledged to accelerate improvements in runway safety and aviation technology, requesting Congressional funding to expedite the process.
The NTSB’s investigation continues, with additional simulations, interviews, and data analyses planned. As authorities work to improve safety protocols, the families of the victims continue to push for systemic reform, hoping to prevent another catastrophic failure in the nation’s aviation infrastructure.
