The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is sending a Critical Incident Stress Management team to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) following a series of alarming incidents. The team will provide confidential support to air traffic controllers, and the FAA will conduct routine wellness checks at the facility.

Concerns over safety have intensified after multiple incidents this year. On January 29, a mid-air collision between a US Army Blackhawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet resulted in 67 deaths. More recently, a fight in the control tower led to the arrest of a 39-year-old air traffic controller on assault charges. Additionally, a near-miss occurred when miscommunication allowed a Delta Air Lines plane to take off as Air Force T-38 jets approached dangerously close.

In response, the FAA has increased the number of operational supervisors at DCA from six to eight and is reviewing staffing levels. Investigations revealed that during January’s collision, one controller was managing two positions for over five hours. Nationwide, only 70% of FAA staffing targets for certified controllers were met as of September 2023.

The FAA is also assessing the airport’s arrival rate, which was temporarily reduced after the collision but has now increased to 30 landings per hour.