FAA Chief Admits 'Something Was Missed' in Deadly DC Plane Crash
Summary
The FAA administrator admitted a critical oversight led to the tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, revealing over 15,000 near misses had occurred at the airport without action taken to address the risks.
Key Points
- The FAA admitted "something was missed" that led to the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and Army helicopter near Washington DC, killing all 67 people on board
- Between October 2021 and December 2024, there were over 15,000 close proximity events between commercial aircraft and helicopters at Reagan National Airport, according to publicly available data
- The NTSB is investigating the crash and called for immediate changes to helicopter routes around the airport, saying the current routes "pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety"