Air traffic control is shown at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, after the collision of the American Eagle flight and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, as seen from Virginia on January 30, 2025 .
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Washington – The Federal Aviation Administration will restrict helicopter traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC, after the fatal collision of the black hawk helicopter of the army with a American Airlines Jetliner earlier this week, the Secretary of Transportation said Duffy on Friday.
“Today's decision will immediately help to ensure airspace near the Reagan airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” Duffy said in a publication at the Social Network Site X. “The US people deserve full confidence in Our aviation system and current action is a significant step towards restoration of that trust. “
The restricted area includes Bridge To South Capitol Street Bridge Memorial, excluding the tide basin; Haines point to the Wilson bridge; And the airspace on the airport, Duffy said in the post.
The member of the National Transport Security Board, Todd Inman, said in an informative session on Thursday afternoon that helicopters operate in areas or tracks in Washington. “This was making the track one to four as part of its normal procedure,” he said. “If you live in DC, you see many helicopters in this area. So there is a very well defined system.”
American Eagle Flight 5342 was second to land at the Reagan National Airport when he crashed with the Army helicopter on Wednesday night. The 64 people aboard the plane and the three people in the helicopter died. It was the first fatal accident of the commercial airline in the United States in more than 15 years and the deadliest since 2001.
The American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom, said Thursday that it was not clear “why the military plane entered the road” of its plane. On Friday, ISOM thanked President Donald Trump “for his aviation security leadership. Applauded, the Secretary Duffy and the Administration for taking quick and decisive measures today to restrict the activity of helicopters around DCA.”
The researchers continued on Friday their research, observing aspects such as the altitude of the aircraft, staff and communication with air traffic controllers.
The American Airlines plane, a regional CRJ700 that arrived from Wichita, Kansas, flew to about 300 feet in its final approach when it collided with the black hawk.
According to the FAA rules, helicopters, which routinely cross and around Washington, between military bases, pentagon and other places, they must fly in the area near the airport to a maximum of 200 feet.
