WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A group representing U.S. airlines wants a series of safety changes after a fatal collision between an Army helicopter and American Airlines regional jet killed 67 people in January near Washington’s Reagan National Airport.
Airlines for America, which represents American, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others, will call for permanently suspending some routes near Reagan with limited exceptions for essential military or medical emergencies, according to written testimony for a U.S. House hearing Tuesday seen by Reuters.
Most helicopters have been temporarily barred near the airport since the fatal incident pending a preliminary report due out this month. The group also wants military aircraft to be required to use a key safety system known as ADS-B near large airports.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)