Senators Kaine and Warner Introduce Bill to Curb Overcrowding at Reagan National Airport Following Deadly Crash
Virginia's U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats, have introduced the DCA Air Safety Act in response to a deadly 2025 crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and ongoing concerns about overcrowding. The crash, which involved an American Airlines Bombardier jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killed 67 people. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed that one air traffic controller was managing 29 aircraft within an 18-minute period on the night of the collision. The proposed legislation aims to enhance safety by capping hourly arrivals at no more than 28 aircraft per 60-minute period, down from the current rate of 30 (which was 32 at the time of the crash). It also seeks to reduce flight clustering by requiring airports to set limits for each 30-minute period to spread out flights more evenly. Additionally, the bill proposes removing 30 flight slots over five years, starting in 2028, including at least 26 flights t...
