U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has expressed his support for an independent audit of airspace operations and safety oversight in the National Capital Region, which includes Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). This initiative comes after a bipartisan request from Senate leaders following a midair collision on January 29 between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342. The incident resulted in the loss of 67 lives.
Secretary Duffy said, "Sixty-seven lives were lost on the evening of January 29 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. We took immediate action, including permanently restricting helicopters from operating near the airport. But that’s not enough—the more scrutiny and oversight the better. How were these near misses not addressed? We have a solemn responsibility to the victims, their families, and the flying public to fully understand what went wrong—and to ensure it never happens again. The inspector general will have our full support."
In response to this tragedy and previous incidents, where there were 85 similar near misses at Reagan National, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented several measures to enhance safety around DCA. These include permanently restricting non-essential helicopter operations around DCA, closing Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge, evaluating alternative helicopter routes as recommended by the NTSB, rescinding authority to operate without broadcasting an ADS-B out signal, adding lateral widths to charted helicopter routes, eliminating visual separation within five miles of DCA, halting operations at the Pentagon Heliport until key coordination and safety items are addressed, increasing staffing at DCA, and establishing a Safety Risk Management Panel.
Both DOT and FAA leadership are in favor of an audit and remain committed to maintaining safe airspace in the region.
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