... Lawmakers had previously raised concerns about increasing the number of flights to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport before Wednesday's midair collision.
Senators from Virginia and Maryland spoke out against the proposals included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, which was approved by Congress in 2024.
Newsweek has contacted the FAA for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Although there are no indications that the increase in flights played a role in the accident involving a passenger jet colliding with a military helicopter, questions continue to be raised about how the crash -- which may have resulted in the deaths of 67 people -- occurred. ...
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support. It first cleared the House in July 2023 by a vote of 351-69. The Senate passed the bill with some amendments by a vote of 88-4 in May 2024. The House then approved the amended bill last May by 387-26.
Before it was approved by the upper chamber, Democratic Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland issued a joint statement condemning an addition to the FAA Reauthorization Act that would allow five incoming and five outgoing flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The senators said the increase in flights would overburden the already congested main runway and "increase the risk of a serious accident there."
Kaine also warned of the potential for collisions if more flights were approved for the busy airport while speaking to reporters last year.
"God forbid waking up and looking in a mirror one day and saying, 'Wow, I was warned. I was warned, and I shouldn't have done this,'" Kaine said. ...
