US aviation officials strengthen staffing protocols after deadly Reagan Airport collision

Following a deadly accident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January, US aviation officials have enacted stricter staffing regulations for air-traffic controllers at the airport.

On the night of January 29, a single air-traffic controller was responsible for managing both helicopter and plane traffic, a responsibility typically split between two controllers, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

This combined responsibility was implemented an hour earlier than usual, against Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules. Shortly after, an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet, resulting in 67 fatalities.

This incident isn’t the first-time staffing irregularities at Reagan Airport have raised concerns. In 2021, an FAA investigation followed a close call involving Air Force jets, a Marine helicopter used to transport the Vice President, and a commercial plane. That investigation found controllers were sometimes paid for shifts they didn’t fully work, in a practice known as an “early shove,” where controllers would leave their shifts earlier than scheduled.

In response to the recent crash, the FAA has emphasized the importance of maintaining a stand-alone controller position for helicopter traffic, given the complexity of the airport’s airspace. The agency has now raised the level of approval required for combining controller positions, requiring higher-level approval from the tower’s facility manager. “How did they get the authority? And we’re going to pull back that authority to make sure that we have the right policies in place inside our towers to make sure that when you fly, you’re safe,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is overseeing the investigation into the crash, focusing on whether the lack of a dedicated helicopter controller contributed to the incident. NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy stated, “Certainly, it’s an extra set of eyes, but for this one we have to see: Would it have made a difference?”

The NTSB is also examining the actions of the helicopter crew and the communication with the air-traffic controller during the incident. In the wake of the crash, the FAA has temporarily restricted helicopter flights around Reagan Airport.

The controller overseeing the incident was hired nearly a decade ago and had a history without notable issues. The FAA’s tightened staffing rules come as the agency seeks to prevent further accidents and enhance air traffic safety at Reagan Airport, which has long dealt with complex airspace and high traffic volumes.

By Vafa Guliyeva