The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two “immediate” safety recommendations after a midarur collision in January, after searching for thousands of nearby calls between helicopters and aircraft near Ronald Reagan Vashington Shington National Airport on Tuesday.
The board recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permanently prohibit some helicopter routes around the airport, also known as DCA, while on January 29, an army helicopter and 67 people were used after a crash between the kills.
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homende called the current distance between helicopter traffic and aircraft landing on “inadequate” and “unbearable risk for aviation safety” on some runways at the airport.
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later said that the FA would adopt some restrictions on helicopter routes around the DCA, with details of the route changes to the pilots on Wednesday.
“Best way, we are in a state where we are threading the needle, which can fly under the airspace just like a landing plane,” Duffy told reporters. “And why was this information not studied and not known before January 29.”
The direct result of the catastrophic accident between the black hawk pilots collided with in American airlines is a recommended prohibition, killing people in both aircraft.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the helicopter was flying at 278 feet-it crashed on a flight at 9am, while jet, jet, cans from DCA. The collision was drowned in the Potomac river, such an accident after 2001.
By the Homandy, the US Capitol to the Arlington, viced around the Potomac River, Va. The incident was set to take place after thousands of calls near the airport located in the airport. Military helicopters regularly do exercises, local law enforcement patrols in the area, and government officials move in and from some places in the area.
It reported 15,214 of “nearby proximity events” between the commercial aircraft and helicopters near the airport between October Catber 2021 and December 2024 – including 85 near Mrs or Close Calls.
What is more, at least one traffic alert and a clash of clash due to the proximity of the aircraft helicopters was launched every month from 2011 to 2024.
“It makes me angry, but he makes me feel unwanted for families that lose loved ones because they lose loved ones,” he told reporters at a press conference Initial investigation report.
“It should not be a tragedy to happen. Unfortunately, someone did, and so we are calling for the action, but there were clearly indicators where safety trending could have been, “he added.
At a separate press conference, Duffy said that when the data was there to see the risks in the DCA, it was not effective analysis “.
“He makes me angry,” he said. “Maybe there was a lot of data coming there, and it’s easy, maybe, looking back and saying, ‘You should see it.’ Looking at it, it is clear that it was not to be hidden in the data.
Duffy also said that he talked to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday about giving the military and defense department a path around the banned airspace. He added that the President will be excluded for air travel, Vice President’s air travel, life -saving mission or law enforcement.
The NTSB is especially recommending that the FAA will permanently ban the helicopter route 4, the four -mile stretch between Hans Point and Wilson Bridge, while runways 15 and 33 are being used in the DCA.
Because the entire dam of the road will prohibit the important aviation corridors used for law enforcement activity, cost guard patrol and government operations, the board also recommended that the FA appoint an alternative helicopter route that the Route 4 can be used when the special segment is closed.
The FAA had already temporarily banned most helicopters near the airport unless it can review NTSB’s initial findings.
The NTSB’s initial report contains details of efforts to find the facts of the board released on Tuesday, but do not analyze the cause of the collision.
Initial findings on the crash, Published last monthSuggests that Black Hawk pilots may have “bad data” on The Witches and they cannot hear important information provided by air traffic control for flying backs of seconds of crash.
The domestic also emphasized that despite the new recommendations, “aviation is extremely safe,” in and outside the country’s capital.
“I just got out of DCA with my daughter,” he said. “Aviation is extremely safe. DCA is where I will always fly. I often say that your biggest risk is in your personal vehicle when you are on a plane at the airport. Aviation is safe. “
Following the NTSB announcement, American Airlines supported the recommendations like the world’s largest pilot Union The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
“We continue to mourn the life that we lose in tragic accidents associated with Flight 5342. We are grateful for the immediate safety recommendations of the National Transport Safety Board for restricting helicopter traffic near the DCA and for its thorough investigation,” we are attributed to American Airlines. ” Said in a statement.
And ALPA President Captain Jason Ambrosi said that as the airline industry processes recent accidents, “it is more important than ever to stay vigilant for all operators of our national air space and return to fundamentals,” a Tuesday.
This story was updated at 5: 22 pm
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
