'Hot Spots' At 4 MD, DC Airports At Risk For Collision, Confusion: FAA

Federal authorities have flagged three Maryland airports and one in the nearby Washington, D.C. metro as having "hot spot" areas known for an increased risk of collisions or runway confusion.

The airports listed in the most recent publication by the Federal Aviation Administration include Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, as well as Easton/Newnam Field, Frederick Municipal Airport and Hagerstown Regional Airport.

"Hot spots" carry concerns, including planes taxiing into the wrong taxiway, short distances between parallel runways, or pilots needing to navigate taxiways with heavy vehicle traffic.

"The FAA for many years has published a 'hot spot' list showing pilots where incidents have occurred on runways and taxiways at airports nationwide," an FAA spokesperson told USA Today. "The purpose is to alert pilots to be extra attentive when operating in these locations, which are typically complex or confusing intersections."

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport had three hot spots listed in the FAA's report.

• Read the full list on the FAA's website

Reagan Airport was the site of the deadly Jan. 29, 2025, mid-air collision involving an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people.

The FAA has since implemented a series of changes designed to increase safety at the airport. For example, air traffic controllers are now required to use radar in situations that were previously largely managed by a pilot's own eyes.

As for Maryland airports, the list identified one hot spot each at Easton and Hagerstown, and three at Frederick Municipal Airport.

An airport's inclusion on the list doesn't necessarily mean it is unsafe to travel through, the FAA told USA Today. Rather, it's intended to highlight known problem areas to ensure "heightened attention by pilots and drivers" and "avoid confusion."