U.S. authorities have imposed restrictions on helicopter flights near Reagan Washington National Airport following a tragic midair collision this week, which killed 67 people. The collision involved an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter.
On Friday, investigators recovered the helicopter’s black box, which records flight data and cockpit voices, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman. This data, along with the cockpit voice and flight data recorders from the CRJ700 aircraft, will help authorities understand the events leading up to the crash, which occurred on Wednesday night. The crash resulted in the aircraft plunging into the Potomac River and is the deadliest U.S. air disaster in two decades.
The NTSB has also interviewed air traffic controllers, including the lone controller in Reagan’s tower at the time of the crash. While the cause remains unknown, the NTSB has refrained from speculating and emphasized that its focus is on finding facts and preventing future tragedies.
In addition to the Washington crash, a medevac plane crashed in Philadelphia on Friday evening, carrying a child and five others. The status of the passengers is yet to be confirmed.
Following the Washington incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented strict flight restrictions to ensure airspace safety around Reagan Airport. These measures will remain in place until the NTSB releases a preliminary report, which typically takes about 30 days.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed the airline’s commitment to working with authorities to enhance aviation safety. So far, 41 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, with efforts to remove debris from the Potomac River starting on Sunday.
The collision occurred as the American Airlines plane was attempting to land, striking an Army Black Hawk helicopter. All 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the plane were killed, along with the three service members in the helicopter.
The tragedy has raised concerns about air safety and the shortage of air traffic controllers at Reagan Airport. The FAA is understaffed, with approximately 3,000 fewer controllers than required. One controller was handling both plane and helicopter traffic during the crash, which, while deemed adequate for lower traffic volumes, is considered an abnormal situation.
The crash has also sparked debates over the safety of military and commercial flight separation, with Senator Maria Cantwell raising concerns about the 350-foot vertical and horizontal clearance between the two aircraft. Meanwhile, former President Trump suggested that the Black Hawk helicopter was flying too high, beyond the 200-foot limit for its route.
The crash victims included passengers from several countries, including Russia, China, Germany, and the Philippines. Many were young figure skaters returning from a training camp in Kansas.
