In the aftermath of the deadly mid-air collision of an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington D.C., the federal government has made swift changes to air space in the area to avoid another disaster.
Helicopters and airplanes are no longer allowed to share air space over the Potomac River near busy Reagan Washington National Airport, the FAA announced after a deadly Jan. 29 mid-air collision that killed 67 people.
The area of airspace over the river will be reserved for airplanes, with exceptions, the FAA said in a Temporary Flying Restriction posted this week.
If a medical, police, military or presidential helicopter must fly in that space, civilian aircraft will not be allowed, “to prevent potential conflicts in this airspace,” officials said.
In last week’s air tragedy, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter with three crew aboard collided with an American Airlines regional passenger jet with 60 passengers and four crew members. Both aircraft plunged into the icy Potomac River.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are trying to determine whether the Black Hawk was too high at the time of the crash, among other facts.
The restriction on planes and helicopters near the Washington area airport is in effect until March 31, the agency said.