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OVER 15,000 close calls between commercial flights and helicopters were reported at the Washington DC airport in the years leading up to the deadly January 29 mid-air collision.
The National Transportation Safety Board issued urgent safety recommendations for helicopters near Reagan International Airport following the crash involving an American Airlines flight and black hawk Army helicopter.
Jennifer Homendy, the NTSB chair, opened up about the disturbing number of “close proximity events” at an unexpected press conference Tuesday.
She revealed there were 15,214 near misses between commercial airliners and helicopters out of 944,179 flights at Reagan airport between October 2021 and December 2024.
“We remain concerned about the significant potential for a future mid-air collision at DCA, which is why we are recommending a permanent solution today,” the BTSB chair said.
Homendy suggested the Federal Aviation Administration ban helicopters from a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River when commercial flights land on Reagan Airport’s runway 33.
“Urgent recommendations require immediate action to prevent similar accidents or incidents when we issue them,” said Homendy.
“We believe a critical safety issue must be addressed without delay.
“It shouldn’t take a tragedy to require immediate action.”
The shocking revelation comes nearly two months after the caught-on-camera collision exploded over the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.