Military flights often linked to close calls at Reagan National

The FAA encourages pilots to self-report near-midair collision incidents to help prevent future accidents. Their database contains over 8,700 reports nationwide. In the airspace around Reagan National, 57% of these reports involve military aircraft compared to just 23% nationwide.

Mike McCormick, former FAA director of safety and operations and current associate professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, explained to NPR that specific helicopter routes designed for military use increase the likelihood of reported near-midair collisions in Washington's airspace.

McCormick also discussed factors contributing to last week's accident. He noted that complex flight operations and alternate runway landings can make it difficult for pilots to detect other aircraft. Additionally, nighttime conditions with many background lights may have contributed to visibility issues during the incident.

Despite concerns about congestion at Reagan National Airport, McCormick does not believe systemic problems exist between military and civilian flight operations. However, he mentioned potential changes might be forthcoming as investigations continue.

"I feel very confident that although the [NTSB] investigation is going to take some time," McCormick said, "I know the FAA is already looking at this in a parallel investigation - to see if there's anything they can do in the near term or immediately to mitigate the risk of an event like this."

The National Transportation Safety Board will continue its investigation before delivering final assessments on the incident.