An American Airlines airplane takes off as a salvage barge with a crane is placed near the collision website along the Potomac River after a guest jet rammed a helicopter while touchdown at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, United States, on Sunday,Feb 2, 2025.
Al Drago|Bloomberg|Getty Images
UNITED STATE Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated he talked with Trump management consultant and chief executive officer of SpaceX Elon Musk concerning changing the nation’s airspace and elevated problems concerning the armed force’s use helicopters in Washington, D.C.’s congested airspace after a dangerous crash recently.
“I had a conversation with Elon Musk yesterday, pretty remarkable guy. He thinks differently than I think probably a lot of us do, but he has access to the best technological people, the best engineers in the world,” Duffy stated Wednesday at a street transport occasion inWashington “We’re going to remake our airspace, and we’re going to do it quickly.”
Duffy’s remarks come a week after an Army Black Hawk helicopter rammed a getting here American Airlines local jetliner atRonald Reagan Washington National Airport All 64 individuals on the American trip and the 3 army team on the Black Hawk, which got on a training goal, were eliminated. It was the most dangerous airline company crash in the United States considering that 2001.
Musk really did not quickly reply to an ask for remark. SpaceX, in addition to various other area business, shares airspace with business planes. Last month, a Starship rocket experienced an inflight failing that led to an area of particles drizzling down near Caribbean islands and triggering loads of business trips to draw away or postpone to stay clear of the location.
united state airline company execs have actually for years required innovation of united state air traffic control service systems and added hiring of air website traffic controllers to stem a yearslong scarcity.
Duffy stated one air website traffic controller was dealing with both plane and helicopter website traffic at the time of the collision which he will certainly “look at the policies and the procedures inside the tower.”
“We’re going to pull that authority back to make sure that we have the right policies in place inside our towers to make sure when you fly, you’re safe,” he stated.
Duffy stated authorities require to take a look at the security of performing basic training objectives in the evening.
“And if we have generals who are flying in helicopters for convenience through this airspace, that’s not acceptable,” he stated. “Get in a damn Suburban and drive. You don’t need to take a helicopter.”
The UNITED STATE Army and Defense Department really did not quickly comment.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the examination right into recently’s collision, is still penetrating the reason for the lethal crash.
–‘s Michael Sheetz added to this record.