WASHINGTON – The airspace surrounding the nation’s capital is notoriously busy and intricate, a situation that aviation specialists have long feared could result in disaster. Those apprehensions tragically came to fruition on Wednesday night when an American Airlines aircraft collided with a military helicopter, resulting in the loss of 67 lives, including three soldiers and numerous figure skaters.
Even in optimal flying conditions, pilots face significant challenges in the skies above Reagan Washington National Airport. They are required to navigate a high volume of commercial flights, military aircraft, and restricted airspace that surrounds sensitive government locations. “This was an accident waiting to occur,” stated Ross Aimer, a former United Airlines captain and current CEO of Aero Consulting Experts. “Those of us familiar with the aviation sector for years have been expressing concerns that our air traffic systems are overstretched.”
While the specific cause of the collision remains under investigation, initial reports indicated favorable flight conditions as the jet approached from Wichita, Kansas. Investigators have set out to analyze various factors related to the incident, particularly the Army Black Hawk’s altitude, which was noted to be 100 feet above the permissible limit. Furthermore, questions have arisen regarding whether the air traffic control tower was sufficiently staffed, with a report from the Federal Aviation Administration describing staffing levels as “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.”
As officials work to understand the circumstances surrounding the country’s deadliest airline tragedy since 2001, there are growing worries regarding the unique hazards posed by operations at Reagan National. The airport has faced multiple near-miss incidents in recent times. Experts and some lawmakers are concerned that the situation may worsen due to lawmakers easing restrictions last year that previously limited the airport to nonstop flights within a 1,250-mile radius of Washington, with only a few exceptions. This regulatory update allows airlines to establish new routes to far-off destinations like Seattle and San Francisco, igniting debates around the balance between congestion and transit convenience.
The ill-fated flight that crashed was not a product of this expansion; it was initiated by American Airlines in January 2022 following appeals from Kansas lawmakers seeking improved service between Reagan National and Wichita.
Air traffic interactions in this region have long posed risks as commercial aircraft must operate alongside military helicopters, often in alarmingly close proximity. “Even when all parties follow procedures, there’s only a few hundred feet of separation for aircraft landing and helicopters on their routes,” explained Jim Brauchle, a former U.S. Air Force navigator and aviation lawyer. “This does not allow for much error.”
For years, pilots have warned about a concerning ‘nightmare scenario’ near the airport, particularly during nighttime hours when city lights obscure visibility for oncoming aircraft. In a separate incident just over a day prior to the collision, a regional jet had to abort its landing at Reagan National due to the presence of a nearby military helicopter, only to successfully land moments later.
Retired U.S. Army National Guard pilot Darrell Feller recounted an experience where he faced a similar challenge. While piloting a military helicopter above the Potomac River near Reagan National, he was cautioned about a nearby jetliner making its landing approach. Unable to identify the incoming aircraft among the city’s bright lights, he was forced to make a rapid descent to avoid a potential accident. “I couldn’t see the aircraft because of the city lights,” Feller remarked, sharing that this encounter was quite frightening.
Feller also expressed concerns that this week’s crash mirrored the predicament faced by the crew of the Army helicopter moments before the collision as it flew south along the Potomac just prior to 9 PM, intersecting the path of an American Airlines flight landing on Runway 3-3. The air traffic controllers had recently instructed the military pilot to remain behind the jet, only to have both aircraft collide shortly thereafter in a fiery disaster.
Feller, who once served as an instructor pilot at the D.C. National Guard, emphasized the importance of adhering to regulations to prevent collisions, advising new pilots to stay below the 200-foot ceiling for helicopters and remain vigilant for landing aircraft due to their often challenging visibility. “The landing lights do not illuminate your direction directly,” he pointed out, noting that the lights could easily blend with streetlights and vehicles.
This latest crash draws parallels with a tragic incident from 1949, when a passenger plane nearing Reagan Airport collided with a military aircraft, resulting in both planes crashing into the Potomac and claiming 55 lives—a record at the time for deadliest air accident in U.S. history.
Jack Schonely, a retired helicopter pilot, voiced his concerns after taking helicopter rides over Washington, which highlighted the area’s challenging flight dynamics. “There are multiple airports, a variety of restricted areas, and numerous altitude limitations,” he said. “Operating in such a confined space presents numerous hurdles.”
Aviation lawyer Robert Clifford has called for immediate restrictions on military helicopter traffic in the airspace frequented by commercial airlines near Reagan National. “It’s frustratingly evident that this crash was preventable and should never have transpired,” Clifford asserted. “Concerns over airspace congestion and potential disasters have been discussed for an extended period, and we witnessed it unfold last night.”
