Why Is the Flight Attendants Union Questioning Trump’s Washington Arch?

The flight attendants union says President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot Washington arch would place a new obstacle in the landing path at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). It says the structure would worsen safety risks that remain after the deadly January 2025 Potomac midair collision.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the labor union for cabin crews, raised the warning on Oct. 7, 2026, according to the Associated Press. The dispute pits the union's warning against a federal airspace review that cleared the project with lighting conditions.

Table of Contents

• Where would the arch stand?
• What did federal reviewers decide?
• Why do flight attendants still object?
• What does this mean for DCA travelers?

Where would the arch stand?

The 250-foot, 76-meter arch would rise near Arlington National Cemetery at Memorial Circle, which Trump has promoted as a centerpiece for America's 250th anniversary, according to Reuters via SRN News in its airspace report. Memorial Circle sits close to flight paths serving DCA.

That location matters because DCA uses a constrained Potomac approach corridor with little room for error. AFA-CWA says it represents about 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines, according to AVweb, so its warning directly concerns crews and passengers who use that corridor.

What did federal reviewers decide?

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Sept. 18, 2026, after reviewing airspace, traffic patterns, procedures and nearby military airports, that the arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration in its statements archive.

That finding cleared a major regulatory hurdle for the project. As a condition, the FAA required a nonstandard eternal flame on top plus floodlight projectors aimed at the structure, according to Reuters. The lights are meant to make the arch conspicuous to pilots at night and in low visibility.

Why do flight attendants still object?

AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson said the arch compounds unaddressed risks from the January 2025 Potomac River midair collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and Army helicopter PAT 25 that killed 67 people, according to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA in its DCA safety statement. Her point is that DCA has not yet fixed the conditions behind that crash. Nelson also criticized Trump's proposal to make the arch a top grade military complex able to host drones and snipers while storing ammunition, according to the Associated Press. She said commercial flights should not dodge military hazards during takeoff and landing.

That military-use concern has limits. The FAA's no-hazard finding directly conflicts with the union warning. Government plans reported Oct. 17, 2026, omitted snipers, drones and ammunition, according to The Washington Sun, so the project Nelson described may no longer reflect current plans.

What does this mean for DCA travelers?

AFA-CWA is using the dispute to demand that Congress pass DCA safety reforms, according to the union. It says DCA is already stretched to its limit and crews do not need an obstacle taking up space in the flight path. For travelers, three facts matter most: Passengers who use DCA can watch FAA airspace notices and any congressional vote on DCA safety reforms.

• DCA relies on a tight Potomac corridor where small obstacles carry larger effects.
• Federal reviewers would require flame and floodlight marking if the arch is built.
• The union wants safety reforms passed before any new structure is added.

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