By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is indefinitely restricting helicopter flights near Washington Reagan National Airport after a deadly collision between an American Airlines regional jet and Army Black Hawk killed 67 people.
An FAA official on Friday told Reuters the agency was barring most helicopters from parts of two helicopter routes near the airport and only allowing police and medical helicopters in the area between the airport and nearby bridges.
The FAA official said the restrictions impact Route 1 and Route 4 near the airport. National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said Thursday it appears the helicopter at the time of the collision was transiting from Route 1 to Route 4. He noted helicopters in the Washington, DC area use a very well-defined system.
There were 11,000 military helicopter flights annually within 30 miles of the airport, according to a 2021 government report.
The helicopter collided with the jet near the airport Wednesday, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The airport is located in Arlington, Virginia, across the river from Washington.
The FAA told lawmakers it planned to continue the restrictions for the foreseeable future as it conducts a complete evaluation. Lawmakers including Senators Maria Cantwell and Josh Hawley have questioned the close proximity of the military and civilian routes.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
