FAA to reduce arrivals at Reagan National Airport following deadly midair crash
FAA to reduce arrivals at Reagan National
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to reduce flight arrivals at Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport in response to safety concerns following a deadly midair collision that left 67 people dead.
WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is reducing flight arrivals at Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport due to weather conditions and recovery efforts following a deadly midair collision that left 67 people dead.
A warning from the FAA says to expect an average 31-minute delay on some arriving flights to DCA as part of a traffic management program in effect.
Reuters is the first to report that the FAA informed airlines earlier this week that the reduction from 28 to 26 arrivals per hour would lower flight risks but also increase average delays from 40 minutes to 50 minutes.
Midair collision increases stress for tower personnel
Investigators from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have expressed concerns for tower personnel on duty, who are experiencing increased stress while having a front-row view of the accident recovery, Reuters also reported.
American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter collided in midair on January 29 as the plane was preparing to land. The collision sent both aircraft into the Potomac River, killing all onboard. More than a week later, federal investigators are still not able to identify the cause of the deadly midair crash.
Recovery of wreckage and victims complete
The remains of all 67 victims have been recovered, with all but one identified. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on Thursday they have removed all major pieces of wreckage from the Potomac River.
Also on Thursday, members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce and Transportation received a briefing from NTSB and FAA investigators. The briefing was closed to the press, but members did speak with reporters outside.
READ MORE: All major wreckage from DC plane crash removed from Potomac River, officials say
It's not clear how long the slowing of air traffic into DCA will remain in effect. The FAA tells FOX 5 Runway 33, the planned landing runway for American Flight 5342 before the deadly crash, will remain closed until February 10th.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says salvage crews will be working on that smaller debris field before demobilizing equipment by Feb. 16.
The Source: Information in this article comes from FOX 5 DC reporting.