US investigators to brief senators on Washington helicopter plane collision

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board plan to brief senators Thursday on last week's midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport that killed 67, a committee aide said.

In the aftermath of the crash, the FAA has imposed significant restrictions on helicopter flights around Reagan National until at least late February with exceptions for police and medical helicopters, air defense and presidential air transport. The FAA said in a notice posted Tuesday that civilian airplanes may not fly in the area around Reagan airport when helicopters are present.