A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, and 67 passengers and crew died.
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, along with U.S. Reps. Don Beyer, Gerald Connolly, Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C. today requested answers and commitments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its plans to protect the flying public in the wake of the collision.
In a letter, the lawmakers applauded the precautionary safety measures put in place by the FAA, as well as the agency’s collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation into the causes and factors behind the collision, but stressed the need to carefully review existing protocols to ensure that flight operations do not simply return to business as usual.
The lawmakers also expressed serious concern with potential interference with the FAA by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has caused mayhem across the government, from attempting to push out nonpartisan civil servants, to reportedly accessing the U.S. Treasury’s payment system, as well as systems at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“While we applaud FAA for early actions taken to bolster safety, recent actions indicate that your agency is inviting inexperienced individuals with intense partisan leanings into a process that should be objective and expert driven. We are extremely concerned that an ad hoc team of individuals lacking any expertise, exposure, certifications, or knowledge of aviation operations being invited, or inserting themselves, to make ‘rapid’ changes to our nation’s air traffic systems. This the wrong course of action to take,” the lawmakers wrote in reference to a post on X by Elon Musk.
The lawmakers’ letter states that they want the safest skies in the world for passengers and that ” any efforts to weaken standards will not be tolerated. Aviation safety is not an area to ‘move fast and break things.’ Proven, methodical and deliberate action is what is called for when any changes are considered to safety. We express in the strongest possible terms our alarm at allowing Musk’s cadre of unvetted, untrained, and unaccountable individuals the ability to make changes to complicated and sensitive FAA policies at a time when serious and knowledgeable people should be in charge.”
Stressing the need to prioritize safety and to base any future measures on the knowledge of aviation experts, the lawmakers requested answers to the following questions:
1. The FAA’s current restrictions on helicopter flights at National Airport are tied to the release of NTSB’s preliminary report. What factors will FAA consider as it reassesses the need for extending or modifying the restrictions? Please provide details on, and documentation sufficient to substantiate, additional safety measures that are being contemplated and/or will be proposed to deconflict or otherwise improve safety in the air space over National Airport.
2. As you assess the need for additional measures, will you commit to consulting recognized aviation experts – both in and out of the federal government – to identify requirements or operational changes for civil and military aviation in the National Capital Region?
3. On February 4, less than one week from the incident, reports emerged that FAA directed its personnel to cease participating in Federal advisory or aviation rulemaking committees. Were FAA personnel directed to cease participating in these committees?
4. On February 5, 2025, Elon Musk and Secretary Duffy each announced that DOGE would “upgrade our aviation system.”
5. Will you commit the full cooperation and support of the FAA to the NTSB investigation and to swiftly implement its recommendations?
6. Will you commit to examining the communication processes and protocols between FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and other stakeholders that are used during aviation operations in and around National Airport and the National Capital Region?
7. Will you commit to working with the U.S. Department of Defense to evaluate training protocols for required missions in the National Capital Region, particularly those around National Airport and during high-traffic periods, and enact any modifications needed to reduce risk?
8. Will you commit to briefing us on the implementation of changes to the slot (i.e., high density) rule included in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, given that the first of the routes authorized under that legislation will become operational this week?
“The tragic crash at DCA must be carefully investigated and the American public deserves answers regarding how this happened. My colleagues and I are pressing the FAA for answers and confirmation that the investigation will be free from any political interference,” Kaine posted on X today along with a photo of the letter to the FAA.
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Rebecca Barnabi
