FAA vows to improve aviation safety after deadly midair collision
- A midair collision occurred in January between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter, killing all 67 onboard.
- Investigations indicated the helicopter had its location tracking system turned off, hampering air traffic control's ability to manage the situation.
- The FAA acknowledges the need for improved safety measures to prevent future accidents in congested airspace.
In January, a tragic midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet over Washington, D.C., resulted in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 85 dangerous close calls involving planes and helicopters near Ronald Reagan National Airport in the three years leading up to the incident, raising serious concerns about aviation safety oversight. Investigations revealed that the Army's helicopter had its vital safety system that would have allowed air traffic controllers to track its location turned off, and the crew may not have received crucial instructions from air traffic control before the collision. During a congressional hearing regarding the crash, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Chris Rocheleau, emphasized the agency's obligation to enhance safety protocols and identify trends regarding close encounters in aviation. This incident has led to increased scrutiny and changes in regulations, with the FAA employing artificial intelligence to analyze massive amounts of data from various airports, including other regions with high volumes of helicopter traffic. The NTSB confirmed that miscommunication and faulty altitude readings contributed to the calamity, as the helicopter crew might have misjudged their height when approaching an area with significant air traffic. Furthermore, lawmakers expressed their frustration over the Army's decision to operate helicopters in a congested airspace while crucial safety features were inactive. In the aftermath of the collision, the FAA has permanently restricted helicopter traffic in specific airspace configurations to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Senator Ted Cruz raised additional concerns about unrelated incidents where military testing inadvertently caused multiple flights to receive alerts regarding possible collisions in the same airspace. The military has since made adjustments to its policies governing helicopter operations and the transmission of location data. Meanwhile, aviation experts and safety regulators continue to urge a comprehensive review of air traffic control systems to bolster overall aviation safety in highly trafficked areas like Washington, D.C.