The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting helicopter flights around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following the deadly collision between PSA Airlines flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk over the nearby Potomac River on Wednesday night.
According to a Reuters report, the FAA is restricting most helicopters from Route 1 and Route 4 near the airport – the same routes used by the Black Hawk involved in the accident.
Police and medical helicopters will still be allowed to operate flights on those routes.
In an interview with Flying Magazine, helicopter pilot David Wartofsky said that helicopters flying in Washington, D.C., airspace have designated, published routes in which they operate.
“The helicopter routes are predefined and at a very low altitude—for example, at or below 200 feet above the surface.” Wartofsky said. “That particular route the helicopter was on intersects with the approach to Runway 33.”
Wednesday night’s crash killed all 64 people aboard the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, including professional U.S. and Russian figure skaters. Additionally, all three soldiers aboard the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter were killed.
The incident has spurred condolences from aviation labor organizations and airlines around the world.
