Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials seriously considered the closure of one of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's (DCA) runways following a series of close calls in 2024, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. These incidents, which involved near-collisions between aircraft, sparked a review of safety measures at one of the busiest airports in the United States, particularly known for its complex and congested airspace. The first of these incidents occurred on April 18, 2024, when an air traffic controller instructed a Southwest Airlines flight to cross Runway 4 at the same time a JetBlue flight was beginning its takeoff roll on that very runway. Air traffic controllers had to urgently intervene, ordering both aircraft to stop, narrowly avoiding a collision by mere feet. This was followed by another alarming incident on May 29, 2024, again involving Runway 4, where an American Airlines flight was cleared to cross the runway while another aircraft was landing, leading to similar emergency maneuvers by air traffic control.
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In response to these close calls, top FAA officials, including then-Administrator Michael Whitaker, pushed for the closure of Runway 4, which is one of three operational runways at DCA. Runway 4, being the shortest at 5,000 feet, primarily serves smaller regional jets and requires additional coordination due to its intersecting nature with other runways. The FAA's plan was to temporarily shut down this runway to reduce the complexity of managing multiple intersecting runways, thereby simplifying air traffic control operations and reducing the risk of human error. On May 31, 2024, the FAA announced a temporary suspension of flights on Runway 4 to conduct a thorough safety review. This action was part of a broader initiative to assess the operational and safety protocols at DCA, which has been under scrutiny for its high volume of traffic and the proximity of intersecting runways. The FAA's statement at the time emphasized their commitment to safety, noting that the pause was to examine "the complexity of multiple intersecting runways."
However, the decision to potentially close Runway 4 permanently was met with significant debate. Critics argued that this would increase congestion on the remaining two runways, potentially leading to more delays and, paradoxically, more safety concerns. Terry Liercke, Vice President for the airport authority and airport manager for Reagan National, highlighted the regulatory constraints, stating, "The slabs are federally controlled, federally mandated, and we have to follow federal regulations." This underscores the regulatory and logistical challenges involved in altering airport operations. Despite these concerns, the FAA moved forward with a detailed safety assessment, engaging with multiple stakeholders including the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, airline representatives, and air traffic controllers. The discussions revolved around not just the immediate closure but also long-term solutions to enhance safety, such as the implementation of new technology to aid controllers, better training, and possibly redesigning runway configurations.
The incidents at DCA came at a time when the FAA was already under pressure due to a national shortage of air traffic controllers, which has been a persistent issue affecting safety and efficiency at airports across the country. The consideration of closing Runway 4 was part of a broader response to ensure that the U.S. airspace, often cited as the safest in the world, maintains its high safety standards. Ultimately, the runway was not permanently closed, but the FAA implemented changes to operations at DCA. These included enhanced controller training focused on managing intersecting runways, the introduction of new safety technologies, and a more cautious approach to managing peak-hour traffic. While the runway closure was not deemed the ultimate solution, these steps were taken to address the underlying issues highlighted by the 2024 incidents, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future.