Lawmakers had previously raised concerns about increasing the number of flights to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport before Wednesday’s midair collision.
Senators from Virginia and Maryland spoke out against the proposals included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, which was approved by Congress in 2024.
Newsweek has contacted the FAA for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Although there are no indications that the increase in flights played a role in the accident involving a passenger jet colliding with a military helicopter, questions continue to be raised about how the crash—which may have resulted in the deaths of 67 people—occurred.
What To Know
A major search operation is underway after an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk military helicopter, with both aircraft falling into the Potomac River.
There were 67 people on board both aircraft at the time of the collision. Officials said Thursday morning they are not expecting any survivors.
The 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden last May.
Five new round-trip flights serving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were among the plans included in the extensive bill. The legislation also aimed to improve aviation safety and travel infrastructure, as well as enhance protections for passengers and airline workers.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support. It first cleared the House in July 2023 by a vote of 351-69. The Senate passed the bill with some amendments by a vote of 88-4 in May 2024. The House then approved the amended bill last May by 387-26.
Before it was approved by the upper chamber, Democratic Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland issued a joint statement condemning an addition to the FAA Reauthorization Act that would allow five incoming and five outgoing flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The senators said the increase in flights would overburden the already congested main runway and “increase the risk of a serious accident there.”
Kaine also warned of the potential for collisions if more flights were approved for the busy airport while speaking to reporters last year.
“God forbid waking up and looking in a mirror one day and saying, ‘Wow, I was warned. I was warned, and I shouldn’t have done this,'” Kaine said.
Lawmakers Who Voted to Increase Flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
House of Representatives Members in May 2024 Vote
- Alma Adams (D-NC)
- Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
- Pete Aguilar (D-CA)
- Mark Alford (R-MO)
- Rick Allen (R-GA)
- Colin Allred (D-TX)
- Gabe Amo (D-RI)
- Mark Amodei (R-NV)
- Kelly Armstrong (R-ND)
- Jodey Arrington (R-TX)
- Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)
- Brian Babin (R-TX)
- Don Bacon (R-NE)
- Jim Baird (R-IN)
- Troy Balderson (R-OH)
- Becca Balint (D-VT)
- Jim Banks (R-IN)
- Nanette Barragán (D-CA)
- Aaron Bean (R-FL)
- Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
- Cliff Bentz (R-OR)
- Ami Bera (D-CA)
- Jack Bergman (R-MI)
- Stephanie Bice (R-OK)
- Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
- Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
- Dan Bishop (R-NC)
- Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
- Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
- Lauren Boebert (R-CO)
- Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
- Mike Bost (R-IL)
- Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)
- Shontel Brown (D-OH)
- Julia Brownley (D-CA)
- Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
- Larry Bucshon (R-IN)
- Nikki Budzinski (D-IL)
- Ken Burgess (R-TX)
- Yadira Burlison (R-MO)
- Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
- Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
- Mike Carey (R-OH)
- Jerry Carl (R-AL)
- Barry Carter (D-LA)
- Jerry Cartwright (D-PA)
- André Carson (D-IN)
- Earl Case (D-HI)
- John Casten (D-IL)
- Kathy Castor (D-FL)
- Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR)
- Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL)
- Judy Chu (D-CA)
- Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ)
- Katherine Clark (D-MA)
- Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
- Ben Cline (R-VA)
- Michael Cloud (R-TX)
- Jim Clyburn (D-SC)
- Andrew Clyde (R-GA)
- Steve Cohen (D-TN)
- Tom Cole (R-OK)
- Mike Collins (R-GA)
- James Comer (R-KY)
- Lou Correa (D-CA)
- Jim Costa (D-CA)
- Joe Courtney (D-CT)
- Angie Craig (D-MN)
- Rick Crawford (R-AR)
- Dan Crenshaw (R-TX)
- Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)
- Jason Crow (D-CO)
- Henry Cuellar (D-TX)
- John Curtis (R-UT)
- Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY)
- Sharice Davids (D-KS)
- Danny Davis (D-IL)
- Don Davis (D-NC)
- Monica De La Cruz (R-TX)
- Madeleine Dean (D-PA)
- Diana DeGette (D-CO)
- Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
- Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
- Chris Deluzio (D-PA)
- Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
- Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
- Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
- Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
- Byron Donalds (R-FL)
- John Duarte (R-CA)
- Jeff Duncan (R-SC)
- Neal Dunn (R-FL)
- Chuck Edwards (R-NC)
- Jake Ellzey (R-TX)
- Tom Emmer (R-MN)
- Veronica Escobar (D-TX)
- Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
- Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
- Ron Estes (R-KS)
- Mike Ezell (R-MS)
- Pat Fallon (R-TX)
- Randy Feenstra (R-IA)
- Drew Ferguson (R-GA)
- Brad Finstad (R-MN)
- Michelle Fischbach (R-MN)
- Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
- Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
- Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX)
- Mike Flood (R-NE)
- Bill Foster (D-IL)
- Valerie Foushee (D-NC)
- Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
- Lois Frankel (D-FL)
- C. Scott Franklin (R-FL)
- Maxwell Frost (D-FL)
- Russell Fry (R-SC)
- Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
- Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
- John Garamendi (D-CA)
- Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)
- Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL)
- Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)
- Mike Garcia (R-CA)
- Robert Garcia (D-CA)
- Carlos Gimenez (R-FL)
- Jared Golden (D-ME)
- Dan Goldman (D-NY)
- Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
- Tony Gonzales (R-TX)
- Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX)
- Lance Gooden (R-TX)
- Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
- Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
- Garret Graves (R-LA)
- Sam Graves (R-MO)
- Mark Green (R-TN)
- Al Green (D-TX)
- Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
- Michael Guest (R-MS)
- Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
- Harriet Hageman (R-WY)
- Josh Harder (D-CA)
- Andy Harris (R-MD)
- Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)
- Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
- Kevin Hern (R-OK)
- French Hill (R-AR)
- Jim Himes (D-CT)
- Ashley Hinson (R-IA)
- Steven Horsford (D-NV)
- Erin Houchin (R-IN)
- Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
- Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
- Val Hoyle (D-OR)
- Richard Hudson (R-NC)
- Jared Huffman (D-CA)
- Bill Huizenga (R-MI)
- Wesley Hunt (R-TX)
- Darrell Issa (R-CA)
- Glenn Ivey (D-MD)
- Jeff Jackson (D-NC)
- Ronny Jackson (R-TX)
- Sara Jacobs (D-CA)
- John James (R-MI)
- Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
- Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
- Hank Johnson (D-GA)
- Mike Johnson (R-LA)
- Jim Jordan (R-OH)
- Dave Joyce (R-OH)
- John Joyce (R-PA)
- Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA)
- Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
- Tom Kean (R-NJ)
- Bill Keating (D-MA)
- Robin Kelly (D-IL)
- Trent Kelly (R-MS)
- Mike Kelly (R-PA)
- Joe Kennedy (D-NY)
- Ro Khanna (D-CA)
- Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
- Dan Kildee (D-MI)
- Kevin Kiley (R-CA)
- Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
- Young Kim (R-CA)
- Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)
- Annie Kuster (D-NH)
- David Kustoff (R-TN)
- Darin LaHood (R-IL)
- Nick LaLota (R-NY)
- Doug LaMalfa (R-CA)
- Don Lamborn (R-CO)
- Greg Landsman (D-OH)
- Nick Langworthy (R-NY)
- Rick Larsen (D-WA)
- John Larson (D-CT)
- Bob Latta (R-OH)
- Jake LaTurner (R-KS)
- Mike Lawler (R-NY)
- Barbara Lee (D-CA)
- Laurel Lee (R-FL)
- Susie Lee (D-NV)
- Summer Lee (D-PA)
- Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
- Debbie Lesko (R-AZ)
- Julia Letlow (R-LA)
- Mike Levin (D-CA)
- Ted Lieu (D-CA)
- Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
- Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)
- Frank Lucas (R-OK)
- Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
- Morgan Luttrell (R-TX)
- Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
- Nancy Mace (R-SC)
- Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
- Celeste Maloy (R-UT)
- Tracey Mann (R-KS)
- Kathy Manning (D-NC)
- Brian Mast (R-FL)
- Doris Matsui (D-CA)
- Lucy McBath (D-GA)
- Michael McCaul (R-TX)
- Betty McCollum (D-MN)
- Austin McCormick (R-GA)
- Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)
- Matt McGovern (D-MA)
- Patrick McHenry (R-NC)
- Rob Menendez (D-NJ)
- Grace Meng (D-NY)
- Dan Meuser (R-PA)
- Kweisi Mfume (D-MD)
- Mary Miller (R-IL)
- Troy Miller (R-OH)
- Carol Miller (R-WV)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
- Cory Mills (R-FL)
- Marc Molinaro (R-NY)
- John Moolenaar (R-MI)
- Barry Moore (R-AL)
- Blake Moore (R-UT)
- Gwen Moore (D-WI)
- Troy Moran (R-TX)
- Joe Morelle (D-NY)
- Jared Moskowitz (D-FL)
- Seth Moulton (D-MA)
- Frank Mrvan (D-IN)
- Kevin Mullin (D-CA)
- Jeff Murphy (R-NC)
- Stacy Nadler (D-NY)
- Jerry Napolitano (D-CA)
- Grace Neal (D-MA)
- Richard Neguse (D-CO)
- Troy Nehls (R-TX)
- Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
- Jeff Nickel (D-NC)
- Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
- Zach Nunn (R-IA)
- Jay Obernolte (R-CA)
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
- Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
- Burgess Owens (R-UT)
- Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
- Gary Palmer (R-AL)
- Chris Pappas (D-NH)
- Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)
- Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
- Mary Peltola (D-AK)
- Greg Pence (R-IN)
- Marie Perez (D-WA)
- Scott Peters (D-CA)
- Brittany Pettersen (D-CO)
- August Pfluger (R-TX)
- Dean Phillips (D-MN)
- Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
- Mark Pocan (D-WI)
- Katie Porter (D-CA)
- Bill Posey (R-FL)
- Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
- Mike Quigley (D-IL)
- Delia Ramirez (D-IL)
- Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
- Mike Rogers (R-AL)
- Hal Rogers (R-KY)
- John Rose (R-TN)
- Deborah Ross (D-NC)
- David Rouzer (R-NC)
- Chip Roy (R-TX)
- Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
- Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)
- John Rutherford (R-FL)
- Pat Ryan (D-NY)
- Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL)
- Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
- Linda Sánchez (D-CA)
- John Sarbanes (D-MD)
- Steve Scalise (R-LA)
- Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)
- Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
- Adam Schiff (D-CA)
- Brad Schneider (D-IL)
- Hillary Scholten (D-MI)
- Kim Schrier (D-WA)
- David Schweikert (R-AZ)
- Austin Scott (R-GA)
- David Scott (D-GA)
- Keith Self (R-TX)
- Pete Sessions (R-TX)
- Terri Sewell (D-AL)
- Brad Sherman (D-CA)
- Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
- Mike Simpson (R-ID)
- Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
- Jason Smith (R-MO)
- Adrian Smith (R-NE)
- Chris Smith (R-NJ)
- Adam Smith (D-WA)
- Lloyd Smucker (R-PA)
- Eric Sorensen (D-IL)
- Darren Soto (D-FL)
- Melanie Stansbury (D-NM)
- Greg Stanton (D-AZ)
- Pete Stauber (R-MN)
- Michelle Steel (R-CA)
- Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
- Bryan Steil (R-WI)
- Haley Stevens (D-MI)
- Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
- Dale Strong (R-AL)
- Tom Suozzi (D-NY)
- Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
- Emilia Sykes (D-OH)
- Mark Takano (D-CA)
- Claudia Tenney (R-NY)
- Shri Thanedar (D-MI)
- Mike Thompson (D-CA)
- Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
- Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
- Tom Tiffany (R-WI)
- William Timmons (R-SC)
- Dina Titus (D-NV)
- Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
- Jill Tokuda (D-HI)
- Paul Tonko (D-NY)
- Norma Torres (D-CA)
- Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
- Lori Trahan (D-MA)
- Mike Turner (R-OH)
- Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
- David Valadao (R-CA)
- Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ)
- Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
- Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
- Juan Vargas (D-CA)
- Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
- Marc Veasey (D-TX)
- Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)
- Ann Wagner (R-MO)
- Tim Walberg (R-MI)
- Michael Waltz (R-FL)
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
- Maxine Waters (D-CA)
- Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
- Randy Weber (R-TX)
- Daniel Webster (R-FL)
- Brad Wenstrup (R-OH)
- Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
- Susan Wild (D-PA)
- Nikema Williams (D-GA)
- Brandon Williams (R-NY)
- Roger Williams (R-TX)
- Joe Wilson (R-SC)
- Rob Wittman (R-VA)
- Steve Womack (R-AR)
- Rudy Yakym (R-IN)
- Ryan Zinke (R-MT)
Senators in May 2024 Vote
- Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
- Michael Bennet (D-CO)
- Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
- Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Cory Booker (D-NJ)
- John Boozman (R-AR)
- Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
- Ted Budd (R-NC)
- Laphonza Butler (D-CA)
- Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
- Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
- Tom Carper (D-DE)
- Bob Casey (D-PA)
- Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
- Susan Collins (R-ME)
- Chris Coons (D-DE)
- John Cornyn (R-TX)
- Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
- Tom Cotton (R-AR)
- Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
- Mike Crapo (R-ID)
- Ted Cruz (R-TX)
- Steve Daines (R-MT)
- Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
- Dick Durbin (D-IL)
- Joni Ernst (R-IA)
- John Fetterman (D-PA)
- Deb Fischer (R-NE)
- Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
- Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
- Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
- Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
- Josh Hawley (R-MO)
- Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
- John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
- Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
- John Hoeven (R-ND)
- Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
- Ron Johnson (R-WI)
- Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
- John Kennedy (R-LA)
- Angus King (I-ME)
- Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
- James Lankford (R-OK)
- Mike Lee (R-UT)
- Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
- Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
- Ed Markey (D-MA)
- Roger Marshall (R-KS)
- Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
- Jerry Moran (R-KS)
- Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
- Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
- Chris Murphy (D-CT)
- Patty Murray (D-WA)
- Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
- Alex Padilla (D-CA)
- Rand Paul (R-KY)
- Gary Peters (D-MI)
- Jack Reed (D-RI)
- Pete Ricketts (R-NE)
- Jim Risch (R-ID)
- Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
- Mike Rounds (R-SD)
- Marco Rubio (R-FL)
- Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
- Brian Schatz (D-HI)
- Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
- Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
- Rick Scott (R-FL)
- Tim Scott (R-SC)
- Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
- Tina Smith (D-MN)
- Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
- Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
- Jon Tester (D-MT)
- John Thune (R-SD)
- Thom Tillis (R-NC)
- Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
- JD Vance (R-OH)
- Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
- Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
- Peter Welch (D-VT)
- Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
- Roger Wicker (R-MS)
- Ron Wyden (D-OR)
- Todd Young (R-IN)
What People Are Saying
Senators Mark R. Warner, Tim Kaine, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen said in April 2024 statement: “While the bill contains many positive features, the Senate is poised to consider a provision that could impair safety and will significantly increase delay and inconvenience experienced by the nearly 25 million passengers who use Reagan National Airport (DCA) every year. The provision will overburden the already congested main runway at DCA and, as shown by a recent near-collision at the airport, increase the risk of a serious accident there.”
Democratic Texas Representative Joaquin Castro said in July 2024 statement: “In May, I was proud to be part of the effort to authorize more direct flights into Washington D.C. and open the door for a nonstop flight from San Antonio. American’s proposed direct flight will make travel easier for thousands of military, business and leisure travelers and attract new jobs for our talented workforce.”
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said during Thursday press briefing on the collision: “We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but … what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely. Something went wrong here. I look forward to the time and point where we can give you that information, but I don’t want to comment on that right now.”
The FAA said in a statement: “FAA investigators are supporting the NTSB-led investigation of Wednesday night’s midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport. The NTSB is leading the investigation and will provide all updates. We cannot comment on any aspect of open investigations. The FAA will quickly take any actions necessary based on evidence from the investigation.”
What Happens Next
An investigation into the cause of the accident will take place in due course, as well as confirmation regarding the victims on the airplane and helicopter.
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