The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an incident involving an American Airlines Boeing 737-800. The aircraft, operating flight AA1630, entered restricted airspace shortly after departing from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on November 20. The plane veered into a prohibited zone around Washington D.C. just minutes after takeoff. It was en route to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

The airspace surrounding the capital is tightly controlled, especially around sensitive locations like the White House and the National Mall. The FAA’s Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) spans a 30-mile radius, which includes Prohibited Area P-56A. This area, located within the Flight-Restricted Zone (FRZ), restricts all unauthorized flights. The recent deviation follows a similar incident last week when a pilot of an American Airlines Airbus A321neo narrowly avoided dangerous terrain after departing from Honolulu.

The aircraft, registered N856NN, took off at 10:10 p.m. local time. Flight tracking data shows that within seconds of departure, the plane deviated from its intended route. Instead of turning left, as required by standard procedures, it turned right, directly over the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument. The plane continued to climb and eventually returned to its intended path, passing over the Potomac River and heading toward its destination.

The FAA confirmed the incident and stated that the aircraft entered Prohibited Area P-56A without clearance. The area has strict regulations and only flights authorized by the U.S. Secret Service or other federal agencies are permitted. Although American Airlines flight AA1630 landed safely in Chicago, the breach of restricted airspace highlights ongoing concerns about airspace management around Washington, D.C.

Although the cause of the deviation remains unclear, this is not the first time an aircraft has strayed into this restricted zone. Earlier this year, another flight also mistakenly entered P-56A. The FAA continues to monitor air traffic around Washington, D.C. to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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