The tragic midair collision in January that resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals raised significant concerns about aviation safety and the oversight of near misses, particularly in the airspace over the nation’s capital. The chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, has called for a closer examination of existing data to prevent future accidents. She highlighted before Congress that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been aware since 2011 that collision alarms were frequently triggered due to aircraft and helicopters coming dangerously close. Despite this, action was not taken by the FAA.
During a congressional hearing focused on her agency’s budget, Homendy questioned the use of data collected by the FAA. She stressed the importance of analyzing these reports to identify and mitigate risks before they culminate in accidents. The Senate is scheduled to conduct a further hearing to explore the findings of the NTSB regarding the collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
Jim Hall, the former NTSB chairman, criticized the FAA for not utilizing its data from airlines, pilots, and air traffic controllers to prevent safety threats. He questioned whether political or regulatory factors allowed such a situation to persist and ultimately lead to a tragic outcome. Homendy and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed their frustration earlier in the month upon learning of 85 near-miss incidents in three years where aircraft nearly collided.
Following the NTSB’s briefing, the FAA began a comprehensive review of its data to identify any analogous safety threats, with a special focus on airspace over eight cities with significant helicopter traffic. The FAA’s review is employing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance its analysis and detection capabilities. The FAA has assured the public that they will formulate corrective action plans for any identified risks, although no specific findings have been disclosed as yet.
As a proactive measure, the FAA has already implemented the NTSB’s recommendation to close a specific helicopter route near Ronald Reagan National Airport whenever planes are landing or taking off from runway 33. This action intends to prevent aircraft and helicopters from entering the same airspace, which contributed to January’s collision.
At the same time, the FAA is committed to supporting the NTSB investigation and will take necessary actions to maintain public safety. Homendy refrained from commenting on former President Donald Trump’s assertions blaming diversity policies at the FAA for the crash, as the investigation is ongoing and a final cause has yet to be determined. Meanwhile, New Jersey Democrat Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman argued against those comments, emphasizing that diversity should not be scapegoated without evidence.
With longstanding concerns about the staffing and workload of air traffic control systems, the FAA continues to face scrutiny. Inaccurate altitude readings and communication errors with air traffic controllers have been suggested as potential factors in the helicopter’s collision with the jet at 278 feet, exceeding its altitude limit for that specific location.
The collision represents the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since 2001’s crash in New York City. As investigations continue and safety measures are reviewed, the priority remains to prevent a recurrence of such tragic events.