Washington Post
• Alex Horton, Dan Lamothe, Tara Copp
A U.S. Army investigation found that multiple systemic failures contributed to the 2025 collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines regional jet. The crash killed 67 people; the report recommends sweeping changes.
ATC
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
A U.S. Army investigation found that multiple systemic failures contributed to the 2025 collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines regional jet. The crash killed 67 people; the report recommends sweeping changes.
The German Aerospace Center tested a concept that recalculates aircraft vertical profiles when tactical speed changes occur, aiming to keep idle-thrust approaches feasible in busy terminal airspace. The simulations assess whether flight paths can adapt to operational changes without abandoning the approach strategy.
A new policy aims to give Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) extra warning when Marine One takes off. The change follows an August safety incident involving communications between President Donald Trump’s helicopter and the airport, located just outside Washington.
High activity
The FAA recruited 2,235 air traffic controller trainees in fiscal year 2026, exceeding its hiring target and setting an agency record. The milestone strengthens the staffing pipeline, but the agency continues to face a chronic controller shortage that remains an operational constraint.
Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance a regional “single sky” framework. The agreement signals closer coordination on airspace management and could shape future approaches to cross-border air traffic operations among the four South American countries.
Ryanair’s September traffic rose 4% year on year to 20.1 million passengers, even as the carrier cancelled more than 1,000 flights. The airline attributed the disruption to two UK air traffic control incidents, strike action in Belgium and volcanic activity at Mount Etna.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster discusses the pressures facing the airline, including fuel economics, artificial intelligence and air traffic control meltdowns, in an interview with Gordon Smith at Skift Global Forum in New York.
Thales will supply Ireland with its Ground Master 400 Alpha long-range radar, identifying the system underpinning the Irish military’s first long-range radar network. The acquisition will reinforce Ireland’s air-surveillance capability and provide greater visibility of activity in its airspace.
Create a free account to see more recent ATC stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
