FAA bars helicopters, planes from sharing air space over Potomac

Helicopters and airplanes are no longer allowed to share air space over the Potomac River near busy Reagan Washington National Airport, the FAA announced after a deadly Jan. 29 mid-air collision there killed 67 people.

The swath of airspace over the river will be reserved for airplanes, with exceptions, the FAA said in a Temporary Flying Restriction posted Tuesday.

If a medical, police, military or presidential helicopter must fly in that space, civilian aircraft will not be allowed, “to prevent potential conflicts in this airspace,” officials said.

In last week’s air tragedy, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter with three crew aboard collided with an American Airlines regional passenger jet with 60 passengers and four crew members. Both aircraft plunged into the icy Potomac River.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are trying to determine whether the Black Hawk was too high at the time of the crash, among other facts.

The restriction on planes and helicopters near the Washington area airport is in effect until March 31, the agency said.

All 67 victims of the collision have been recovered and identified, authorities have said, and much of the jet, a Bombardier CRJ700, has been pulled from the water.

On Wednesday, the NTSB said the pieces of airplane have been taken by barge to a secure location “for a full wreckage layout and examination.”

Officials have said the submerged Black Hawk helicopter would be removed from the river this week.