Last year, Congress approved the addition of 10 new daily flights to Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport. This decision came despite alarming data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showing a troubling number of near misses in the already busy airspace. The FAA, responsible for overseeing air safety, had documented numerous incidents, but this information seemingly did not lead to any preventive actions prior to the tragic midair collision on January 29, which claimed 67 lives.
Safety experts and families affected by the crash are now questioning why the FAA did not address these safety concerns sooner. Data revealed that pilots were alerted to take evasive action to avoid helicopters at least once a month from 2011 through 2024. There were also 85 instances where aircraft came dangerously close to each other in recent years. Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son in the crash, expressed his frustration, asking how such close calls could go unaddressed.
Reagan National Airport, designed for 15 million passengers a year, is currently handling around 25 million. This has raised concerns among pilots about the crowded airspace, which must accommodate military flights and restricted zones. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found the number of close calls at Reagan National to be much higher than previously understood, raising alarms about the airport’s safety.
Current NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have both voiced their anger over the FAA’s failure to recognize and act on these close call statistics. Duffy indicated that the FAA would consider banning some helicopter flights around the airport, a temporary measure put in place after the collision.
Mary Schiavo, a safety advocate, criticized the FAA for its complacency, stating that the agency often waits for disasters before taking action. In Kansas, local officials argue that the FAA’s data should be more accessible to the public, emphasizing the need for transparency in aviation safety.
Reagan National Airport has a limit of 864 landings and departures each day. Despite local objections, Congress has historically pushed for more flight slots at this airport, which is more convenient for lawmakers compared to Dulles International Airport, which has the capacity to handle additional flights.
The issue of congestion at Reagan National was highlighted last year during discussions about an aviation safety bill that allowed for the addition of more flights. Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner warned that increasing air traffic would heighten risks, pointing to a near miss incident as a significant warning sign.
While the FAA has been under scrutiny for its handling of safety data, the connection between the recent crash and the airport’s congestion remains a topic of ongoing investigation. The American Airlines flight involved in the collision had recently started a new route from Wichita, Kansas, and was diverted to a runway closer to helicopter traffic, a decision that safety experts say contributed to the accident.
As investigations continue, lawmakers and safety advocates are calling for a reassessment of air traffic management at Reagan National to prevent future tragedies.