FAA Restricts Helicopter Traffic Around Reagan Airport Following Deadly Crash

A plane takes off from Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va,, on Jan. 30, 2025. Al Drago/Getty Images

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has indefinitely restricted helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport following a midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter that killed 67 people.

The FAA announced on Jan. 31 that helicopter flight restrictions apply to the airspace over the Potomac River surrounding Reagan National Airport and extend to Wilson Bridge.

Most helicopters are barred from parts of two key routes, with exceptions only for police and medical aircraft operating between the airport and nearby bridges.

The restrictions—which the FAA said have President Donald Trump’s backing—will remain in place at least until the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completes its preliminary investigation. After that, they will be reviewed based on the NTSB’s report.

“Today’s decision will immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “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.”

In addition to the FAA’s announcement of flight restrictions, two of the airport’s three runways were expected to remain closed for a week, according to Terry Liercke, vice president of Reagan National Airport.

The restrictions come amid ongoing investigations at the Potomac River crash site. Officials said Friday that 41 bodies had been recovered so far as recovery efforts continue from Wednesday’s deadly collision.

Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly confirmed that 28 of the recovered bodies have been positively identified. “We expect to recover all of the bodies,” he said. “That’s why our teams are still working.”

Officials have not yet identified a reason for the collision, though Trump said he believes policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) may have contributed to it.

Trump on Thursday signed an aviation safety memorandum to reverse DEI-related hiring practices for air traffic controllers and other transportation officials. The president also ordered the FAA Administrator and the Transportation Secretary to review all hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols made over the last four years.

“This review shall include a systematic assessment of any deterioration in hiring standards and aviation safety standards and protocols during the Biden Administration,” Trump wrote in the memo.

The NTSB said Thursday that it was too early to determine the cause of the accident. Flight data recorders—known as “black boxes”—have been recovered from the American Airlines jet, but not from the helicopter. The agency said it expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days.

During his first days in office, Trump signed a separate presidential memorandum ordering the FAA and the Transportation Secretary to stop all DEI hiring practices and instead base decisions on merit.

In Friday’s announcement of the helicopter flight pause, Duffy made reference to Trump’s executive actions, vowing that the Department of Transportation that he leads will pursue “uncompromised” safety standards.

“We will continue to support President Trump’s directive to achieve uncompromised aviation safety,” Duffy said. “The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system, and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust.”

Wednesday’s crash was the deadliest in the United States since 2001, when an American Airlines jet crashed in New York, killing 265 people. The last major fatal U.S. commercial airline crash occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, claiming 50 lives.