New Rules Around Marine One Airspace Cause Travel Chaos at DC Airport

Passengers at Washington’s Reagan National Airport are experiencing long delays and significant disruptions due to new safety restrictions for President Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter, according to a report from The Washington Post.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed stricter safety requirements when the presidential helicopter is in the air following last month’s fatal collision between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines jet over Washington, D.C.

These new rules include increased runway closures when Marine One is nearby, reducing the already limited space for commercial jets at the congested airport. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA introduced the restrictions earlier this year in response to the January crash, which claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

“For years, non-critical helicopter traffic congested the DCA airspace, creating challenges for controllers and pilots,” the FAA said in a statement to The Independent. “The new policy provides exceptions for lifesaving medical support, active law enforcement, active air defense, or presidential helicopter missions. We will review the current policy once the NTSB completes its preliminary investigation.”

The FAA also noted that recent weather conditions have contributed to delays at Reagan National, in addition to new limits on the number of flights allowed per hour. Before the crash, the airport’s maximum hourly arrival rate was 32 planes, but that number has now been reduced to 28 to accommodate the increased operational complexity following the reopening of all runways.

The added runway closures are forcing many arriving jets to circle above the airport, and some flights are even being diverted. American Airlines has instructed pilots to carry extra fuel to account for potential delays. Several inbound flights have already been redirected to alternative airports, including Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond International.

While some level of delay was typical whenever Marine One was in the area, the new policies have made disruptions significantly worse.

One American Airlines passenger shared her experience with The Washington Post, describing how her flight was descending into Washington when it suddenly pulled up and entered a holding pattern due to “VIP movement,” as the pilot explained over the intercom.

The delays continued on the ground, with American Airlines staff struggling to assist passengers who had missed connecting flights or car reservations.

“People were panicked because they were afraid of missing their flights, and some had already missed their connections entirely,” she told The Post. “Others had rental cars booked at National or hotel reservations in that part of town.”

On February 14, weeks after the new rules took effect, Trump departed the White House for Florida, causing approximately 30 airliners bound for Reagan National to remain in holding patterns, with nine ultimately being diverted, according to data reviewed by The Washington Post. Similar delays have been reported in the following days.

The airport, already one of the most congested in the country, faces mounting concerns from lawmakers about safety and capacity.

Last year, Congress passed a major aviation bill, signed by then-President Joe Biden, that added five new daily long-haul flights at Reagan National. Many Washington-area lawmakers and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority opposed the measure, warning that increased traffic could compromise safety.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine has raised concerns about the airport’s growing congestion, pointing out that Reagan National handles 25 million passengers annually, despite being designed for only 15 million.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen echoed those concerns, stating, “The proposal flies in the face of known safety concerns and known congestion concerns.”

As flight delays continue to mount, the debate over airspace restrictions and airport capacity is likely to intensify, with both aviation officials and lawmakers seeking solutions to balance security and operational efficiency.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com