D.C. crash highlights national air traffic concerns, Seattle's growing congestion

Outlets across the nation are scrutinizing the congested airspace around Reagan National Airport, following the deadly crash that killed 67 passengers aboard an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter. 

Local perspective:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports North American carriers experienced a 6.8% percent rise in annual traffic in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2023, Reagan National saw 25.6 million passengers pass through, while Seattle-Tacoma handled over 52 million—more than double the traffic. Designed in the 1960s, this gateway to the Emerald City was built to only accommodate roughly 25 million passengers. 

Despite long lines at TSA and recent frustrations over limited parking, aviation expert Mike Dunlop says comparing capacity issues at Reagan to Sea-Tac is apples to oranges. Dunlop argues that the recent crash near Reagan National was an anomaly, calling it a "black swan event."

What they're saying:

Dunlop, who has worked in the industry for over four decades, pointed out that while Washington D.C. is known for having some of the most restricted airspace in the world, it doesn’t necessarily mean Sea-Tac is at risk of facing similar safety concerns.

"The real challenge is with small airplanes and particularly Boeing Field being in very close proximity to SeaTac," said Dunlop. "My fear has always been small planes, but recently they’ve mandated that even the small planes have transponders."

Dunlop explained that in recent years, even small planes, like Cessnas, are required to use transponders that signal their location and speed to air traffic control systems, significantly reducing the danger of collisions. Dunlop emphasized that accidents in U.S. airspace are extremely rare, even close calls like the incident with the Gonzaga basketball team at LAX last month.

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"There’s not that many close calls in the U.S.," he said. "When you say it's close, in aerospace terms, it's not that close."

As the region's population grows and air traffic increases, experts are exploring potential solutions to alleviate congestion. One idea that was proposed in the state legislature was a new regional airport in Pierce County. However, this plan was put on hold due to pushback, including concerns about the proximity of Joint Base Lewis-McChord and potential interference with military flights.

"They’ve got some very very fast airplanes. They fly differently than a commercial jet," remarked Dunlop. "It’s not a good mix to have them close to each other."

Dunlop believes that expanding runways at Paine Field—located north of Seattle—could be a more effective way to relieve pressure at Sea-Tac. Beyond airport expansion, Dunlop also believes better scheduling could help ease congestion.

The Source: Information in this story is from the International Air Transport Association and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.

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