Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell on Tuesday urged the Federal Aviation Administration to address critical concerns before deciding whether to extend a program that allows Boeing to perform FAA-delegated tasks like inspections and approving repairs.

In January, an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter collided near the same airport, killing more than 60 people.

Testifying for the first time in front of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, acting Federal Aviation Administrator Chris Rocheleau admitted that "something was missed."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported a near-miss between two aircraft at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Friday. According to an FAA statement, a Delta flight was cleared for takeoff from DCA around 3:15 p.

U.S. Senators pressed for more answers into the deadly mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport. "This collision was horrendous and it is heartbreaking, but it was not a surprise," said Sen. Tammy Duckworth. "It has been a difficult 57 days," said Sen. Jerry Moran.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it must improve the way it identifies potentially risky air-traffic situations, following a deadly midair collision between a US Army helicopter and American Airlines Group Inc.

The Delta pilot said there was an aircraft 500 feet below the passenger jet after it took off from Reagan National Airport.

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration has told Congress that the agency must do more to ensure flying remains safe after a midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.