Federal researchers have expressed concern about a potential for another fatal aircraft crash in Reagan National Airport, after a collision for the air earlier this year, 67 killed.
The National Transportation Safety Board gave an update on their investigation into the cause of the disaster that took place on January 29 in Washington.
A jetliner from the American Airlines and a Black Hawk Military Helicopter clashed in the air over the Potomac River, in which everyone was killed on board both aircraft.
As part of a preliminary report that was released on Tuesday, researchers expressed their concern about more clashes with helicopters at the airport.
NTSB chairman Jennifer Homendy said: “We will continue to worry about the considerable potential for future collision in the air at DCA.”
Her concerns around transport secretary Sean Duffy who are moving to limit helicopter traffic around the area, but that will stop at the end of the month.
Noodenenities respond after a passenger plane collided in Arlington on January 30, 2025, Virginia collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport
Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) Jennifer Homendy speaks to reporters about the January 29 Mid-Air collision
When police, medical or presidential transport helicopters have to use, the space that civil aircraft cannot be in the same area become.
Homanendy said that the NTSB now recommends that the FAA finds a 'permanent solution' for alternative routes for helicopters when two of the runways of the airport are in use.
It was also revealed on Tuesday that there were warning signals in the run -up to the deadly disaster.
Those who investigated the crash went through 944,179 operations between October 2021 and December 2024.
It was discovered that 15,214 'near-Miss events' of aircraft get warnings about helicopters that are nearby between October 2021 and December 2024.
The NTSB also said that there were 85 cases where two aircraft were split sideways with less than 1500 feet and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet.
Homanendy added: 'That data from October 2021 to December 2024 (the FAA) could have used that information at any time to determine that we have a trend here and watched a problem here and at that route; That didn't happen, that's why we take action today. But unfortunately people lost their lives and his loved ones. '
Researchers believe that the helicopter involved in the crash may have had inaccurate altitude measurements in the minutes before the crash.
The collision probably took place slightly less than 300 feet at a height, while the plane descended to the helicopter, which was above the 200 feet limit in front of that location.
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