Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has installed a new surface-movement radar system following the January 2025 midair collision that killed 67 people. The upgrade is intended to give air traffic controllers better visibility of aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways, addressing safety concerns raised by the crash and wider scrutiny of aviation systems.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the airport had received the SMR-4 radar, which tracks movement on the ground. The fatal collision involved an American Airlines-operated regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near the airport; investigations and official reviews identified multiple systemic safety failures.