The agency says the approved helicopter route is too close to the approach to the runway where an American Eagle plane was attempting to land in January.

Helicopter traffic should be permanently banned near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during certain periods to alleviate congestion and avoid a repeat of the deadly midair collision that occurred there in January,

US air crash investigators have recommended restricting helicopter flights in certain areas near Washington DC's Reagan National Airport following January's deadly mid-air collision. Citing an "intolerable risk to aviation safety",