Investigators call for ban on some helicopter flights after Washington, DC midair collision

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident that occurred near Washington, D.C. in January, involving a passenger plane and a U.S. Army helicopter. Investigators have recommended prohibiting certain helicopter flights, believing that the current flight paths "pose an unacceptable risk." This investigation aims to prevent similar accidents in the future.

The NTSB released preliminary findings at a hearing on Tuesday (U.S. time), emphasizing the urgent need for new safety measures to prevent future disasters of this kind. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated, "We have determined that the existing separation between helicopter traffic flying the Route 4 corridor and airplanes landing on Runway 33 is insufficient and poses an unacceptable risk to aviation safety." These findings highlight the critical need for immediate action.

Ms. Homendy cited a series of alarming near-miss data points to underscore the dangers that have existed near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) for years. In just over three years, the NTSB identified 85 recorded near misses, where aircraft came within feet of each other. This data reveals a concerning pattern of potential collisions.

Ms. Homendy said, "We shouldn't wait for a tragedy to take urgent action." Current procedures allow helicopters and airplanes to be as close as 75 feet apart during landings. According to the NTSB's preliminary report, investigators found that between October 2021 and December 2024, aircraft received 15,214 alerts about helicopters being too close. The data shows that aircraft received at least one alert per month, requiring evasive maneuvers to avoid approaching helicopters.

Ms. Homendy stated that the NTSB wants federal regulators to urgently "prohibit flights on the Helicopter Route 4 corridor between Haines Point and the Wilson Bridge during simultaneous takeoffs and landings on Runways 1-5 and 3-3 at DCA airport." This proposal would have significant implications for law enforcement, Coast Guard patrols, and government flights. However, Ms. Homendy emphasized the need for a "permanent solution," which is to find alternative routes to divert helicopter traffic away from the airport to reduce risk.

Hours after the NTSB announcement, Transportation Secretary Shawn Dafty agreed to extend the temporary helicopter flight restrictions implemented after the January crash, which resulted in 67 deaths. He said that helicopters will no longer "thread the needle," flying underneath landing aircraft. Mr. Dafty stated, "The data was there, but it wasn't being analyzed effectively to the point that we recognized this risk." He said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will use artificial intelligence to analyze data from all U.S. airports to identify similar risks. Washington, D.C. is not the only location with dangerous intersecting traffic.