FAA Limits Helicopter Traffic Around Reagan Washington National Airport

Two routes have been closed following Wednesday night’s midair crash in Washington, D.C.

Caleb Revill

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 02:26 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Delta aircraft takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. [Shutterstock/Andrew Mauro]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has implemented new restrictions on most helicopter flights around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA).
This action follows a deadly mid-air collision between a PSA Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk over the Potomac River, which killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft.
The restrictions specifically target routes (Route 1 and Route 4) near the airport, which were used by the Black Hawk, though police and medical helicopters are exempt.

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The FAA is limiting helicopter flights around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) following the deadly collision between PSA Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk over the nearby Potomac River on Wednesday night.

According to a Reuters report, the FAA is restricting most helicopters from Route 1 and Route 4 near the airport—the same routes used by the Black Hawk involved in the accident.