Congressmen open investigation into military's airspace use, with letter to Hegseth

A pair of congressmen are opening an investigation into the military’s use of airspace in the National Capital Region in response to January’s deadly air tragedy that claimed the lives of 67 people.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., and Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., penned a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requesting a “member-level briefing” on the circumstances surrounding the Jan. 29 collision between an Army helicopter and American Airlines jet over the Potomac River.

The lawmakers want to know what measures the military is taking to “ensure calamities of this nature do not occur in the future.”

In their letter to Hegseth, the lawmakers highlighted the complex airspace, specifically around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

“Washington, D.C.’s airspace is among the most complex and heavily regulated in the nation. DCA operates within the tightly controlled Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), making it one of the busiest and most sensitive airspaces in the country,” the lawmakers wrote. “DoD plays a critical role in managing and securing this airspace, with military aircraft frequently conducting operations in and around the National Capital Region.”

The lawmakers cited data from the Federal Aviation Administration showing 30 near-collisions mid-air around the airport since 1987. One-third of those incidents involved military aircraft, including seven helicopters.

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board indicates the Army Black Hawk helicopter was flying at approximately 278 feet, above the 200-foot permitted flight ceiling for helicopters flying near the airport at the time of the collision. The ceiling is designed to keep military and law enforcement helicopters clear of commercial aircraft landing and taking off in the already tightly restricted airspace around the nation’s capital.

In addition, the report said before the collision, the chopper had turned off its Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system, a vital tracking system. The FAA describes the system as “advanced surveillance technology that combines an aircraft’s positioning source, aircraft avionics, and ground infrastructure to create an accurate surveillance interface between aircraft" and air traffic control.

In response to the collision, the FAA announced it would permanently restrict nonessential helicopter operations in the area. The restrictions include prohibiting “nonessential helicopter operations” around Reagan National and eliminating helicopter and “fixed-wing mixed traffic.” It will permanently close Route 4, located along the Potomac River between Hains Point and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and will be “evaluating alternative helicopter routes” as recommended by the Safety Board.

The lawmakers noted the ongoing investigation into the collision but highlighted the need to identify contributing factors.

“As authorities continue to assess the circumstances of the incident, it will be critical to identify any contributing factors and ensure mitigation measures are implemented to enhance future airspace safety,” the lawmakers continued.

As part of the FAA’s recent announcement, the agency said it will continue to examine other airports with “high volumes” of mixed-use traffic and “will have corrective action plans for any risks that are identified.”

The congressmen are requesting a member-level briefing as soon as possible, giving a deadline of April 1.