NTSB recommends banning some helicopter operations near DC airport
US air crash investigators have recommended restricting helicopter flights in certain areas near Washington DC's Reagan National Airport following January's deadly mid-air collision.Citing an "intolerable risk to aviation safety", the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged authorities to designate an alternative helicopter route when two runways -15 and 33 - are in use.All 64 people aboard an American Airlines flight and three crew members on an army helicopter died after the mid-air collision on 29 January.NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that the separation between helicopters and jets in the area was insufficient, raising the "chances of a mid-air collision".
Data used by the NTSB for their preliminary report shows that the proximity between helicopters and aircrafts have triggered at least one alert per month between 2011 and 2024, said Ms Homendy. This data could have been used by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) - the US government agency in charge of civil aviation - to determine if there was a problem. This is "stronger than an oversight", she said. "It shouldn't take tragedy to require immediate action."Ms Homendy also spoke to concerns around air traffic controllers, saying staffing and communications between them is still being investigated. President Donald Trump had earlier suggested without evidence that diversity programmes had played a role in the accident, claiming that the FAA had focused "on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities".
The crash happened when an American Airlines flight that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, was coming in for a landing at Reagan National Airport and collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The army helicopter had taken off from Fort Belvoir, close by in Virginia, on a training mission.Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, and rescue attempts proved unsuccessful. 'Woah that was close': Near-miss warning signs ahead of DC plane crashAre planes crashing more often?Teenage skaters, a young pilot and a professor - the victims of DC plane crashRecordings of air traffic control conversations suggest a controller warned the helicopter about the jet, just before the collision.
The airport, located just outside Washington DC, is one of the busiest in the US, with nearly 400 daily flights to 98 destinations. Pilots interviewed by the BBC after the crash noted that flying in and out of the small airport, surrounded by restricted airspace, can be challenging."There are times when we watch planes land and find ourselves thinking, 'Whoa, that was close,'" said pilot Mo Khimji, noting that strong crosswinds can push a plane into restricted airspace "by a whisker" if the pilot is not careful.Additionally, the airspace is shared with various types of aircraft, including Air Force One, which carries the US president, and commercial flights.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
US sees no immediate reason to ground Boeing 787 after Air India crash
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. officials said on Thursday they have not seen any immediate safety data that would require halting Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 787 flights after a fatal Air India accident killed over 240 people. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration head Chris Rocheleau made the comments at a news conference and said they had seen videos of the crash in India. Duffy said he had spoken to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy. An NTSB and FAA team, with support from Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aerospace (GE.N), opens new tab, was going to India, Duffy said. "They have to get on the ground and take a look. But again right now it'd be way too premature," Duffy said. "People are looking at videos and trying to assess what happened, which is never a strong, smart way to make decisions on what took place." Duffy said the FAA was reviewing information with Boeing and GE as part of the investigation into the crash. Duffy also emphasized the U.S. government "will not hesitate to implement any safety recommendations that may arise. We will follow the facts and put safety first." Rocheleau said, "As we proceed down this road with the investigation itself, if there's any information that becomes available to us regarding any risk, we will mitigate those risks." Duffy said the FAA is "prepared to send additional resources to get the data we need to ensure the safety of the flying public."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Donald Trump to make Open return case for Turnberry as US President flies into Scotland
The Donald wants his Ayrshire course back on the Open rotation after controversy and poor infrastructure affected attendance Air Force One is expected to touch down in Aberdeen this summer ahead of Donald Trump paying flying visits to the Scottish jewels in his golfing crown. It has emerged that the US President is almost certain to attend the official opening of his new 18 hole course at Trump International at Balmedie on the outskirts of the city ahead of his proposed royal visit later in the year. Trump is also understood to be planning to combine his visit to the north-east with a trip to Ayrshire to trumpet his case for Turnberry to be reinstated to The Open schedule. No date has been announced for the official unveiling of the multi-million pound second links course on the Menie Estate, but it is likely to be within the next couple of months. Work on the spectacular New Course is close to completion and will create 'The Greatest 36 holes of Golf' alongside the Old Course opened in 2012, according to Trump's executive vice-president at the International Golf Links, Sarah Malone. Trump's most recent visit to the highly acclaimed resort was in 2023 to coincide with work commencing on the second course. It had initially been planned to name the new 18 holes MacLeod after Trump's Lewis-born mother, Mary, but Malone explained that the decision to refer to the two courses as the Old and New is a nod to tradition. Malone also highlighted the practicalities of doing so from a business perspective, adding: 'Having 36 holes is a big thing. It gives us limitless options and possibilities for tournament and professional play.' Trump International has already secured two top tournaments this summer in the shape of the €1 million Staysure PGA Seniors Championship from July-31 to August 3, and the Scottish Championship the following week. Eight-time European No 1 and Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie will again host the seniors tournament prior to the groundbreaking DP World Tour event worth $2.75 million in prize money. Trump has owned the world-renowned Turnberry Links since 2014 - five years after the Ailsa course hosted the most recent of its four Open Championships. A combination of the controversy surrounding Trump's ownership and the infrastructure, which makes it the least well attended of the Open venues, has resulted in Turnberry disappearing from the championship schedule. But new R&A chief executive, Mark Darbon hinted recently about the possibility of Turnberry being reinstated to the rota following further improvements to the venue. Meanwhile, Monty has called on Open chiefs to bury the hatchet with Trump and accept a financial hit if necessary, due to Turnberry's status as a world class venue. He insisted: 'Turnberry needs to happen. It's ranked No 1 and rightly so. It's the best course we have - not in Scotland but in Britain. I don't think I'm being biased saying that. I think that's what we all feel. 'So to host the greatest championship in golf is a must somewhere down the line and let's hope it happens sooner rather than later. Yes, very much so.'
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Trump launches website for $5m Gold Card – and is mocked for its cheap look
Donald Trump has officially launched his promised gold card which will grants U.S. residency to foreign investors for $5 million – but instantly faced mockery for the supposedly cheap-looking website he's selling them on. 'THE TRUMP CARD IS COMING! Thousands have been calling and asking how they can sign up to ride a beautiful road in gaining access to the Greatest Country and Market anywhere in the World, ' the president wrote on Truth Social. Trump added that the waiting list for the card was 'NOW OPEN' but did not offer further details as to when the cards may be coming available. As if to counter the clunky appearance of the site, a note is included at the top of the page that it is an 'official government site.' The website also does not offer information on a specific launch date – or indeed further information of any kind. A mostly black web page greets visitors with the words: 'Trump Card Is Coming.' Interested parties are encouraged to enter their information into a form to be notified 'the moment access opens.' The site also features a picture of the gold 'Trump Card,' which has the president's photo and signature on the front. Trump showed a version of the card to reporters onboard Air Force One back in April. Social media was quick to react to the news, with one user writing: 'We live in an idiocracy' and another adding: 'This government is a f****** joke, holy f***.' More piled in on the cheap look of the site. 'Lmao this is literally the entire site,' wrote another user, in a short video showing the minimalist page. 'This is the cheesiest thing I've ever seen in my life....' added another. Others noted what they interpreted as a more sinister side of the offer. 'Can we take a moment and realize how disgusting the idea of a trump card is (the instant immigration card for 5 mil),' wrote one user. 'That's so damn dystopian like hey yeah pay me an ungodly amount of money and instantly get treated better than natural born citizens because you're upper class.' 'Abhorrent. Is this what you all voted for? Selling an America fast-pass to people like Russian oligarchs and the like?' added another. The information form on the page to apply for the card requests users fill out their name 'My name is (First, Last),' where they are from, 'from Region' and why they are interested in applying for the card. The gold Trump Card was first announced by the president in February, who said it would grant those with them the same privileges as green card holders, who have permanent residency in the U.S. Administration officials previously suggested that the card will replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which provides a path for foreign nationals to achieve permanent residence (a green card) in the United States. The program requires a minimum investment of $800,000 in the U.S. to qualify but was 'poorly run,' according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Trump said in February that the money from the gold cards would be used to 'pay down a lot of debt,' though did not elaborate. The president has also said previously the card was a way to get 'wealthy people' to invest in the U.S. by 'spending a lot of money, paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people.' Asked whether he would consider selling the cards to Russian oligarchs, Trump responded: 'Yeah, possibly. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.' The president has previously said he does not need the go ahead from Congress to launch the program. It is uncertain how applications for the Trump Card will be processed and who by.
