The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has indefinitely restricted most helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, in response to the devastating mid-air collision on Wednesday night. The restriction aims to keep the airspace around the airport clear and prevent further tragedies, according to the Associated Press.
The fatal crash involved a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three military personnel and an American Airlines flight with 60 passengers and four crew members. Tragically, there were no survivors among the 67 individuals on board both aircraft.
The victims of this disaster include several prominent figures and community members. Among the passengers on the American Airlines flight were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, 1994 world champion figure skaters, as well as figure skater Jinna Han and her mother, Jin Han.
Youth ice partners Angela Yang and Sean Kay were among the victims in the horrific DC plane crash last night.
They were children. The video below is one of their final performances before the tragedy.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/kW8Oda7kp6
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 30, 2025
Christine Lane and her son Spencer Lane, both involved in the figure skating community, also perished in the crash. Other victims include Asra Hussain Raza, a 26-year-old consultant returning home from a work trip, and Samuel Lilley, a pilot who was engaged to be married. The flight’s captain, Jonathan Campos, along with flight attendants Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder, also lost their lives.
Authorities have imposed a temporary flight restriction over the crash site for recovery operations. However, the FAA has now extended restrictions to most helicopter traffic in the immediate vicinity of the airport.
According to a source who spoke with the Associated Press, the agency is indefinitely barring helicopters from using the low-altitude routes that typically run under or parallel to the airport’s flight paths.
Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the collision. Reports indicate that the Black Hawk helicopter was flying outside its designated route and at a higher altitude than allowed. The helicopter’s black box has yet to be recovered, but authorities hope it will provide crucial details about what occurred in the moments leading up to the crash.
President Donald Trump commented on the incident via Truth Social, stating, “The Black Hawk helicopter was flying too high, by a lot. It was far above the 200-foot limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???”
The FAA and other agencies continue their investigations into the tragedy. Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
