The union representing 55,000 flight attendants is raising alarms over a proposed 250-foot arch near Reagan National Airport, citing heightened safety risks and military encroachment.
The flight path into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is already one of the most constrained in the country, and for the 55,000 members of the Flight Attendants Association-CWA, a proposed 250-foot memorial arch is an obstacle they say the capital cannot afford.
Sara Nelson. president of the union. issued a blunt warning Wednesday: the structure. slated for placement on the final approach to the airport. introduces unacceptable risks. The union’s opposition centers on the proximity of the project to active runways and concerns that safety issues lingering from a January 2025 crash over the Potomac River—which claimed 67 lives—remain unaddressed.
“DCA is already stretched to its limit, we do not need an obstacle taking up space in our flight path,” Nelson said. “Nor should commercial aviation have to dodge military drones, missiles or snipers while attempting to take off or land at Washington National Airport. Safety first always.”
The project’s scope shifted significantly last month when President Trump announced. via social media. that he had agreed to a military request to convert the memorial into a “top grade military complex.” The redesign calls for the ability to host drones and snipers while storing ammunition. a move that critics argue fundamentally alters the nature of the airspace surrounding the memorial.
Before the pivot to a military complex. the Federal Aviation Administration had issued an assessment stating the arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft. provided it was equipped with a non-standard eternal flame and floodlight projectors to ensure visibility for pilots. Meanwhile. a National Park Service assessment warned the structure could disrupt the historic significance of dozens of nearby sites. though the agency ultimately granted its approval.
Legal and institutional friction surrounds the project. While the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts—whose members were all appointed by Trump—has granted early approval. a coalition including three veterans and an architectural historian has filed a lawsuit. The plaintiffs contend that the memorial requires direct congressional authorization to move forward.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced early last month that excavation at the Memorial Circle site would begin within weeks. though the Interior Department did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the current status of that work. The arch represents just one facet of a broader effort by the administration to reshape the capital’s landmarks. a campaign that has already included the renovation of a storied public golf course and threats to demolish the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
As the debate continues, Nelson’s union has joined a growing chorus of veterans’ groups and members of Congress who remain deeply uneasy about the project’s impact on historic sightlines and the safety of the skies above Washington.
Reagan National Airport DCA flight attendants memorial arch Donald Trump aviation safety Washington DC