Federal aviation officials are taking urgent action to prevent future midair collisions after a catastrophic crash between an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Helicopters should be barred from a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River when flights are landing on Reagan National Airport’s Runway 33, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said as the NTSB unveiled “urgent safety recommendations” after the deadly mid-air collision in January.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released two reports — one on preliminary findings and another on safety recommendations — related to the deadly collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet in January.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday recommended that helicopter traffic be banned from a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River when flights are landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board will announce on Tuesday it is making an urgent safety recommendation to prevent helicopter operations when two runways are being used at Washington Reagan National Airport following a mid-air collision in January that killed 67 people,

Investigators issued their preliminary report Tuesday in the probe into the devastating crash between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

Authorities give update on the investigation into the passenger jet and helicopter collision that killed 67 people in January. Image credit: US Coast Guard