(The Center Square) — The collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter Wednesday night over the Potomac River could reignite the decades-old debate about Reagan National Airport’s perimeter rules.
The cause of the collision is still unknown, but U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy told attendees during a briefing Thursday morning that it was clear Wednesday night and that both aircraft were flying standard flight patterns. It has been reported that the helicopter was on a routine training flight.
The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. Three people were on the helicopter. None are expected to have survived the collision, as search and rescue teams have already recovered 27 bodies from the river, according to reports.
Virginia U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner also spoke at the press conference Thursday morning. The senators were asked to weigh-in on the perimeter rules. Kaine acknowledged his longstanding concerns with the expansion but opted not to delve into the debate during the press conference.
“They will be doing the work and taking the lead in answering the many questions that we have, and that’s as it should be. It’s not a time to speculate, it’s a time to investigate and get answers to the questions we need,” Kaine said.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash.
However, both Kaine and Warner have been vocal about the airport’s capacity debate, which is familiar to many legislators and local officials.
After a near crash between two departing planes in April, the senators issued a joint statement.
“Today’s near crash at DCA is a horrifying example of why it’s crucial that we beat back efforts to undermine slot and perimeter rules for our capital region airports. DCA’s overburdened runway is already the busiest in the country – and we fear that adding more flights could put passenger safety at serious jeopardy,” said Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner in a joint statement.
Others said that similar incidents have happened at many other airports around the country.
The senators have sided with those who have said opening up the airport to more flights is foolish and dangerous, while others have argued that the existing rules governing the airport’s capacity “artificially [restrict] air travel” and drive up the price of D.C. flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration approved five additional slots at Reagan Airport in May. Wednesday’s American Airlines flight was one of those slots.