WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration is set to make an announcement regarding a reduction in the number of arrivals at Washington Reagan National Airport as part of efforts to address safety concerns following a tragic collision between a helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet, resulting in the loss of 67 lives, as per an email obtained by Reuters.
The FAA, in a communication to airlines on Wednesday, informed that the reduction will bring down the maximum arrival capacity from 28 to 26 flights per hour. This measure, while aimed at mitigating risks, is expected to lead to an increase in average delays from 40 minutes to 50 minutes. The email highlighted that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have expressed worries about the mental strain on the tower personnel, who are currently under heightened stress while actively involved in the accident recovery efforts.
Furthermore, the email emphasized that reducing the arrival rate from 28 to 26 flights per hour will not only help in minimizing risks but will also provide an additional buffer for enhanced coordination among the airport staff.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
