NTSB lays out “urgent safety recommendations” after midair collision over Potomac River

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday provided an update on its investigation into the January midair collision over the Potomac River, that claimed the lives of 67 people.

NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy said the agency is still in its "fact-finding phase" of the investigation and laid out "urgent safety recommendations."

Among the recommendations, was for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prohibit operations on helicopter Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when runways 15 and 33 at DCA are being used for departures and arrivals. Route 4 is a helicopter route in D.C. that runs along the Potomac River and is close to DCA.

"Preliminary findings suggest that the existing separation distances between helicopter traffic operating on Route 4 and aircraft landing on runway 33 are insufficient. Therefore, the NTSB concludes that existing separation distances between helicopter traffic operating on Route 4 and aircraft landing on runway 33 are insufficient and pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chances of a midair collision," cited from Page 7 of the NTSB’s 10-page recommendation report.

READ MORE: https://katu.com/news/nation-world/deadly-midair-collision-plane-crash-black-hawk-helicopter-ntsb-update-new-information-investigation-67-people-killed-potomac-river-washington-dc-chairman-jennifer-homendy-air-traffic-control-failure-brice-banning
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Author: KATU News
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News post in at: March 12, 2025, 3:00 am.

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