FAA Airspace Oversight Probed After Deadly Collision

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General has opened an investigation into the FAA’s management of airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after a January midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet killed 67 people. The National Transportation Safety Board’s hearings uncovered that only one air traffic controller was overseeing helicopter and airplane traffic at the time, and highlighted longstanding issues including inadequate staffing, outdated routing policies, and frequent close-call incidents—15,000 reported in recent years. The FAA’s practice of granting military helicopters exemptions from the ADS-B Out safety requirement is also under scrutiny. Lawmakers, supported by the Transportation Secretary, requested the audit in response to bipartisan concern over air safety. The Inspector General’s audit will focus on FAA policies for airspace management and safety system exemptions for military aircraft. The results are expected to address systemic safety and staffing challenges at the airport.