An American Airlines passenger plane that departed from Wichita, Kansas, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport Wednesday evening and crashed into the Potomac River, according to law enforcement, a statement from the airline and people familiar with the incident.

The crash Wednesday night comes after a string of close calls at Reagan National Airport and other airports, beginning in early 2023, that had alarmed officials and the airline industry.

In May 2024, an American Airlines flight aborted a takeoff at National Airport after it was at risk of colliding with a private jet. There had been a similar incident the previous month involving a Southwest Airlines plane and a JetBlue Airways flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration views close calls as a sign that the aviation system is under stress and gathered industry leaders early in 2023 to begin trying to address the problem.

The agency planned to install new technology to help warn air traffic controllers when aircraft were at risk of collision. It also took steps to boost hiring and to address complaints of fatigue among controllers.

The National Transportation Safety Board has investigated several of the most serious cases, and lawmakers have held hearings to spur the FAA to action.

The crash is likely to renew debate over safety at Reagan National Airport. Last year, as part of legislation to fund the Federal Aviation Administration, Congress added five additional round-trip flights at National. The decision came over the objections of members of the D.C.-area congressional delegation, who have long argued that the airport is at capacity and that adding more flights could compromise its ability to operate safely.

Resolution criteria: “Tangible” will be up to my own discretion, but for example I would consider a forced reduction in the number of flights as tangible. I will not bet on this market.