Last year, amidst efforts to increase Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport’s capacity with 10 new daily flights, some voices of concern regarding the safety risks of congested air traffic were overshadowed. Virginia’s senators warned that adding more flights could heighten risks, referencing an April incident where two planes nearly collided on the runway as an urgent warning.
Unbeknownst to the public at the time, and only revealed during an investigation into a tragic January collision between an airliner and military helicopter (which resulted in 67 fatalities), was the alarming frequency of close calls at the airport. The revelation has prompted safety experts and affected families to question why such dangers weren’t addressed sooner.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) disclosed that, from 2011 to 2024, pilots were frequently forced to take evasive action to avoid collisions with helicopters, with 85 near misses documented during this period. Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son in the January crash, expressed disbelief over the apparent lack of action in response to these incidents.
For years, pilots have raised concerns about the complex and overcrowded airspace above Reagan National, compounded by the need to navigate around military zones. While it was known that close encounters had occurred before, the NTSB’s detailed findings have revealed the severity of the issue.
James Hall, former NTSB chair, expressed his astonishment at the oversight, emphasizing the need to address such incidents proactively. Current NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who oversees the FAA, have criticized the agency for not recognizing the danger earlier. Duffy announced plans to restrict some helicopter flights near the airport.
Safety advocate Mary Schiavo, a former U.S. Transportation Department inspector general, criticized the FAA for its inaction, suggesting they only respond post-crisis. The situation is particularly distressing for the families of the crash victims.
Attention turned to Washington’s airspace congestion last year during Congressional debates over an aviation safety bill, which permitted 10 additional daily flights at Reagan National. Democratic Senators from Virginia, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, argued against this expansion, citing potential safety risks.
While Congress approved the additional flights, they hadn’t begun before the January crash. Reagan National, along with LaGuardia and JFK airports, operates under strict limits due to flight demand exceeding capacity. Historically, Congress has prompted the FAA to increase slots at Reagan, despite available capacity at the nearby Dulles International Airport because of its proximity and convenience for federal officials.
Mike McCormick from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University pointed out that heavy traffic conditions at Reagan likely contributed to the midair accident. The newly introduced route from Wichita, Kansas, involved a diversion to a busier runway, leading to proximity with helicopter operations.
The Wichita-Washington route, launched in early 2024 with support from Kansas lawmakers, was seen as a crucial connection linking the country’s capital to a significant center for aircraft manufacturing.
U.S. Representative Sharice Davids from Kansas commented that while congestion at Reagan National is a concern, it’s currently being treated separately from the crash’s cause by the NTSB. However, many seek to understand any underlying links between the airport’s congestion and the tragic collision.
