Travel Industry Reacts to Helicopter Ban Near DC Airport After Deadly Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended on Tuesday that helicopter routes near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport be permanently banned following a deadly crash in January.

According to ABCNews.com, NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy issued the findings to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), saying that helicopter operations near Reagan when runways 15 and 33 are in operation should be moved to an alternative route.

Homendy said helicopters operating near the Washington D.C. airport “pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety.” The NTSB found that between October 2021 and December 2024, there were 15,214 close proximity events between commercial airplanes and helicopters.

In response, Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that the federal agency would immediately follow the NTSB's recommendations and keep helicopter restrictions in place. Duffy previously announced a temporary ban after the crash that was set to expire in March.

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on Secretary Duffy's press conference on the NTSB's Preliminary Report findings:

“We commend Secretary Duffy’s swift action to implement recommendations from NTSB preliminary findings. We also applaud Secretary Duffy for laying out a clear plan to upgrade critical ATC technologies within four years and work with Congress to frontload investments in these upgrades.”

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom made the following statement after Secretary Duffy’s press conference:

“The entire American Airlines family continues to mourn the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 5342. I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Duffy for the FAA’s quick action immediately following the accident to temporarily suspend helicopter traffic around DCA, and for their commitment now to adopt NTSB’s urgent safety recommendations regarding the suspension of helicopter traffic around the airport. I also commend President Trump, Secretary Duffy and the FAA’s continued efforts to supercharge staffing and invest in a modern, state-of-the-art air traffic control system. We will continue to work with the Trump Administration and Congress to make our aviation system even safer.”

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