The House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into the military’s use of the airspace surrounding the National Capital Region.
The investigation comes as a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet recently collided.
Reps. William Timmons (R-SC) and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to request a member-level briefing on the matter.
“According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there have been thirty near-midair collisions since 1987 around DCA, with one third of those incidents involving military aircraft and seven including helicopters. Washington, D.C.’s airspace is among the most complex and heavily regulated in the nation,” the letter says. “DCA operates within the tightly controlled Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), making it one of the busiest and most sensitive airspaces in the country.”
“DoD plays a critical role in managing and securing this airspace, with military aircraft frequently conducting operations in and around the National Capital Region,” the letter read. “Missions range from routine training and transport to air defense and emergency response, all of which require precise coordination with civilian aviation authorities to ensure safety and operational effectiveness.”
The lawmakers requested information pertaining to failures in operational procedures, security risks, regulatory issues, risk mitigation measures, and what steps the DOD is taking to preserve travel safety.
American Faith reported that the collision claimed the lives of 67 people. The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was operating at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, despite FAA regulations limiting helicopters in that airspace to 200 feet. The American Airlines regional jet, which had just taken off from Reagan National Airport, was climbing through the same airspace when the collision occurred.
