An airspace cluttered with passenger planes and military aircraft. A history of near-crashes. And a growing shortage of air traffic controllers available to manage it all. Some experts, politicians and airport managers have been warning for years of the risks posed by the crowded airspace and volume of flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

At least 28 bodies have been recovered from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter reportedly crossed into the path of an American Airlines jet late Wednesday. The incident occurred as the jet was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, located just outside Washington, D.C.