In recent years, Washington’s Reagan National Airport has seen a number of close calls and safety lapses, according to government records reviewed by The New York Times. These incidents include a Southwest Airlines flight being directed to cross a runway where a JetBlue Airways plane was cleared to take off, resulting in a near miss. Similarly, an American Airlines jet was cleared to take off at the same time a private plane was given permission to land on an intersecting runway, resulting in another close call.
The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) maintains a public database of runway incursions, which documents incidents that have the potential for collision. Despite these incidents at Reagan National, no 2024 events have been categorized as serious enough to have this potential.
A New York Times investigative series in 2023 revealed that close calls involving commercial airlines happen frequently and are often due to errors by pilots or air traffic controllers. In the fiscal year of 2023, the F.A.A. reported 503 significant air traffic control lapses, an increase of 65% from the previous year.
Pilots have also expressed concerns about helicopter activity near Reagan National, with incidents involving passenger jets nearly colliding with helicopters. In one report from April 2024, an airline captain reported nearly crashing into a helicopter while landing at the airport. These incidents have prompted calls for safer distances to be maintained between aircraft and helicopters in the area.
The F.A.A. did not respond to requests for comment, but typically releases statements about incidents that garner public attention. The agency’s public database of runway incursions provides some details on incidents, though there is often a delay before they appear.
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