Dot Restricts Helicopter Airspace In Dc After Deadly Crash

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday announced that the FAA is clamping down on what kinds of helicopters can fly around the Potomac River in Washington, following the midair collision between a regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people this week.

The restrictions apply to two helicopter routes that transit the river near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, both of which the Black Hawk involved in the crash is believed to have used.

Now those areas, along with the airspace above the airport itself, will be off-limits to helicopters unless they are operated by law enforcement, medical providers, or military aircraft conducting “active” air defense. (Presidential helicopters are also still allowed.) The restrictions will stay in place until the National Transportation Safety Board completes its preliminary investigation of the crash, which will also review the helicopter’s operations, the agency said.

“This is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding our nation’s skies and upholding the highest standards of air travel safety,” Duffy said. “We will continue to support President Trump’s directive to achieve uncompromised aviation safety.”

The move was made in coordination with President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

At a briefing on Thursday, NTSB member Todd Inman said investigators are looking into the helicopter’s operations, which appear to show that at the time of the crash it had switched between the routes in question, known as Routes 1 and 4.

The Washington airspace operates under what’s known as “Class Bravo,” which is highly restricted and requires special approvals to use.