An incident involving two American Airlines aircraft occurred on the taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, raising fresh concerns regarding air traffic management at one of the nation’s busiest airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that American Airlines Flight 5490—a Bombardier CRJ 900 en route to Charleston, South Carolina—was struck by the wingtip of another American Airlines jet, Flight 4522, which was an Embraer E175 headed for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The incident took place around 12:45 PM (16:45 GMT) on Thursday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democratic Congressman from New Jersey, was onboard Flight 5490 and detailed the incident on his social media platform, expressing relief that all passengers were safe. The FAA confirmed that both aircraft successfully taxied to the terminal, where they were promptly taken out of service for maintenance inspections. Initial assessments indicated that the damage was limited to the winglets of both planes.
The recent incident at Reagan National is particularly concerning given the heightened scrutiny the airport has faced following a tragic collision on January 29 that involved an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter, resulting in the loss of 67 lives. In response, the FAA has implemented permanent traffic restrictions for helicopters in the vicinity of the airport. In light of ongoing challenges, the FAA has announced a new management team to bolster air traffic control operations at Reagan National Airport.
Senators have previously urged the FAA to address numerous reports of helicopters flying dangerously close to aircraft in the Reagan National vicinity, emphasizing the need for improved regulatory measures. In response to the recent collision and to enhance safety, the FAA may slow flight arrivals at the airport and is increasing operational supervisor staffing from six to eight. Furthermore, a stress management team will be deployed to assist airport staff confidentially.
The regulatory authority’s focus on safety comes after a near-miss incident on March 28, where a Delta Air Lines plane taking off from Reagan National nearly collided with a group of Air Force jets. This event triggered cockpit warnings for the Delta flight and ignited deeper concerns about air traffic safety protocols at the airport. Unsettlingly, there was also a reported fight within the air traffic control tower last month, leading to the arrest and subsequent suspension of an employee.
As the FAA proceeds with its investigation, the airline industry and travelers alike will be closely monitoring developments to ensure operational safety and efficiency moving forward. #PoliticsNews #WorldNews