- A midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport killed 67 people, highlighting airspace safety concerns.
- Chronic understaffing at the airport’s control tower, with only 19 certified controllers instead of the required 30, has exacerbated risks in the congested airspace.
- A near-miss involving a Republic Airways flight and a helicopter occurred just 24 hours before the fatal crash, revealing a pattern of close calls.
- FAA reports indicate controllers are overworked, often managing both helicopters and planes simultaneously, increasing the likelihood of errors.
- Lawmakers and aviation experts warn that Reagan National’s airspace is overwhelmed, with near-misses rising and systemic reforms urgently needed.
The midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, which claimed 67 lives, may not have been an isolated incident. Just 24 hours earlier, a Republic Airways flight was forced to abort its landing after a helicopter appeared near its flight path, highlighting a pattern of near-misses that has left pilots and aviation experts deeply concerned.
The tragedy, which occurred over the Potomac River, has drawn attention to chronic understaffing at the airport’s air traffic control tower and the challenges of navigating one of the busiest and most complex airspaces in the country. With only 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023—far below the target of 30—Reagan National has struggled to manage the high volume of air traffic, including military and commercial flights that share the same congested airspace.
A pattern of close calls
The Republic Airways incident on Tuesday night was eerily similar to Wednesday’s fatal collision. According to air traffic control audio, the flight was approaching Reagan National when it received a warning about a nearby helicopter. The plane had to climb abruptly and circle back for a second landing attempt. While the aircraft landed safely, the close call underscored the risks of operating in such a crowded airspace.
This was not an isolated event. A CNN review of federal incident reports revealed at least two other near-misses involving helicopters and passenger planes at Reagan National in the past three years. In April 2024, a commercial pilot reported taking evasive action after a collision avoidance system alerted them to a helicopter just 300 feet below. Similarly, in October 2022, another pilot aborted a landing after a helicopter lifted off from a nearby hospital, coming within 300 feet of the plane.
“We never received a warning of the traffic from (air traffic control), so we were unaware it was there,” one pilot wrote in a NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System filing.
Understaffing and overworked controllers
The preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report on Wednesday’s crash noted that staffing at the airport’s control tower was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.” At the time of the collision, one controller was overseeing both helicopters and planes—a task typically handled by two separate controllers.
Chronic understaffing has plagued Reagan National for years, with controllers often working 10-hour days, six days a week, to fill the void. The high-stress environment, combined with the complexity of managing military and commercial flights on different radio frequencies, has created a perfect storm for potential disasters.
“It’s a concert or orchestra of activity that requires careful communication and cooperation between pilots and Reagan tower,” said Brad Bowman, a former Black Hawk pilot. “Everyone has to be on their game and follow instructions exactly.”
The collision has reignited debates about the safety of Reagan National’s airspace, which is already constrained by post-9/11 flight restrictions and the proximity of government buildings. In recent years, lawmakers have clashed over proposals to add more flights to the airport, with opponents warning of increased congestion and safety risks.
“I’ve been warning about this for years—the system is overwhelmed, and it’s a threat to public safety,” said Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who has long opposed expanding flights at the airport.
As investigators piece together the events leading to Wednesday’s crash, the aviation community is grappling with the sobering reality that this tragedy may have been preventable. With near-misses on the rise and staffing shortages persisting, the need for systemic reforms has never been more urgent.
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