The closure of the helicopter route near the airport makes permanent restrictions put in place after the January 29 mid-air collision. The FAA order will allow a few exceptions for helicopter use, including presidential flights along with law enforcement and life-saving missions. Before the collision, there were 28 government agencies authorised to fly helicopters near Reagan National, including the Department of Defence, military services, law enforcement and emergency medical services. The Army Black Hawk involved in the January crash belonged to the 12th Aviation Battalion based at Davison Army Air Field at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Before the crash the now-closed route was a regular part of their mission routes and training.

Source: The Times March 15, 2025 07:27 UTC