Permanent Restrictions on Helicopter Traffic at Reagan National Airport

The U.S. Transportation Department is permanently restricting helicopter flights near Washington Reagan National Airport after a fatal collision prompted safety concerns. Secretary Sean Duffy is following a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to prevent such accidents by adjusting flight routes and reducing non-essential helicopter traffic.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced permanent helicopter flight restrictions near Washington Reagan National Airport, following a deadly mid-air collision earlier this year. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cited an urgent safety advisory from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as a prompt for this action to protect aviation safety.

These new measures coincide with another NTSB recommendation to create alternate helicopter routes when the standby runways at Reagan are operational. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy highlighted the severe risk, with potential separation gaps as narrow as 75 feet between helicopters and planes using these runways.

In the collision's wake, the FAA imposed temporary bans on most helicopters near the airport. Following these new rules, national advocacy groups suggested the FAA permanently lessen helicopter traffic, except for military or medical emergencies, to safeguard flight operations.

(With inputs from agencies.)