FAA Shuts Down D.C. Helicopter Corridor After Mid-Air Collision Killed 67

What Happened?

The Federal Aviation Administration has indefinitely shut down the low-altitude corridor near D.C. that was in use during the fatal mid-air collision between a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter.

This action marks the biggest move taken so far by the FAA since the tragic incident Wednesday that killed 67 people.

According to reports, the U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter utilized a specialized route to fly east of Reagan National Airport.

The route is used by military, law enforcement, medical personnel, and government helicopters.

Helicopters in the corridor must be at or below 200 feet above sea level, according to FAA charts shared by CNN.

Another helicopter route, Route 1, which runs south of Key Bridge, was reportedly closed.

Officials have continued their investigations and recovery efforts after the two aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River.

Everyone on board the two aircraft was feared to be dead, officials said Thursday.

As of Friday, more than 40 bodies have been reportedly pulled from the river.

Three soldiers were onboard the Army helicopter when it crashed, officials told CBS News.

Among those on the airline flight were reportedly teen U.S. Figure Skating members, their mothers, and Russian coaches.

The American Airlines regional jetliner collided around 9 p.m. Wednesday with the Black Hawk helicopter that was reportedly on a training exercise.

American Eagle Flight No. 5342 was on a flight from Wichita, Kansas.

The jet's radio transponder had reportedly stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway.

Why it Matters

President Donald Trump made strong claims when addressing the crash that criticized the former Biden administration and diversity initiatives.

On Truth Social, Trump first reacted to the crash with questions like 'why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane?'

He later stated Friday in a post that the Army helicopter was 'flying too high' at the time of the crash.

'It was far above the 200-foot limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???' Trump added.

His remarks come after he recently announced increased standards for members who operate within the aviation industry and appointed Christopher Rocheleau as acting commissioner of the FAA.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt backed those helicopter claims Friday during a White House press briefing.

'The president based that statement on truth because it is truth and it’s fact,' Leavitt told reporters. 'It was relayed to him by the authorities who are overseeing the investigation into this horrific plane collision.'

How it Affects You

This tragic event reportedly marks the deadliest U.S. plane crash in more than two decades.

Before the incident, the FAA did not have a permanent head after former administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down the day Trump took office.

Officials may soon implement significant recruitment changes to shake up the aviation industry as we currently know it.