United States: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration continues to suspend helicopter flights around Washington Reagan National Airport due to the fatal collision between an American Airlines regional jet and Army Black Hawk, which claimed 67 lives, as reported by Reuters.
Limited Helicopter Operations Permitted for Police, Medical Flights
The Federal Aviation Administration declared that helicopters can operate in specific sections of Routes 1 and 4 only if they belong to police or medical services between the airport and nearby bridges.
According to an FAA official, flight limitations exist for both Route 1 and Route 4 near the airport. According to National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman who spoke on Thursday the helicopter was in transition from Route 1 to Route 4 before the collision happened. He observed that helicopters operating within Washington, DC, follow a structured and well-defined system.
BREAKING — The FAA is significantly restricting helicopter traffic near the Washington Reagan National Airport after a collision that killed 67 people. https://t.co/QhvMig0Qfk
— First Alert 6 (@WOWT6News) January 31, 2025
Investigation Underway to Determine Crash
An annual average of 11,000 military helicopter operations covered an area extending 30 miles from the airport as per a government report from 2021.
The helicopter intersected a jet within the vicinity of the airport when they collided, which resulted in both aircraft falling into the Potomac River. The investigation team examines what caused this crash. Washington is situated across the Potomac River from the airport facilities that operate out of Arlington Virginia, as reported by Reuters.
Legislators Express Concern Over Proximity of Flight Paths
The FAA plans to sustain the flight restrictions indefinitely while they perform a comprehensive evaluation according to statements made to Congress. Several legislators, including Maria Cantwell and Josh Hawley, have demonstrated concerns about the dangerous proximity of military and civilian flight paths.