The arrest of an F.A.A. employee on assault and battery charges comes as flight operations at the airport have been under scrutiny since a passenger jet and an Army helicopter collided in January.

A work dispute led to an altercation between employees in the control tower at Reagan National Airport on Thursday night, people familiar with the matter say.

An air traffic controller was charged with assault and battery after an “incident” at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday night, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority told CNN in a statement. Damon Marsalis Gaines, 39, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was charged with assault and battery, according to the airport.