U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed that it was “unacceptable” for two commercial flights to cancel their landings at Washington Airport this week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter en route to the Pentagon.
Alongside the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, Duffy indicated they would consult with the Department of Defense to understand why established protocols were “ignored.”
This incident follows a tragic air collision in January that resulted in 67 fatalities when a passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter.
Earlier this year, the FAA announced a permanent restriction preventing helicopters from flying near Reagan National on the route where the January collision occurred.
“Safety must always take precedence,” Duffy remarked on social media platform X.
The National Transportation Safety Board noted that the planes involved in Thursday’s incident included an Airbus A319 and a Republic Airlines EMBRAER E170.
As detailed in a statement from the FAA, air traffic control was instructed to have two planes “perform a go-around” at approximately 2:30 PM for the helicopter in question.
The FAA clarified that the helicopter wasn’t operating within the restricted mixed traffic zone at Reagan National, as noted in a memo to Congress reviewed by the Associated Press.
Furthermore, the agency reported that the helicopter seemed to take a “scenic route” around the Pentagon rather than heading directly to the helipad.
Army spokesperson Colonel Victoria Goldfedib stated that the UH-60 Blackhawk was “supervised by Air Aviation Air Traffic Control” at the Pentagon to manage the go-around and follow approved flight procedures.
Goldfedib added that other aircraft were given instructions by air traffic control “to maintain proper separation of airspace.”
She also reassured that the U.S. Army remains dedicated to adhering to aviation safety and operational guidelines.
A Delta representative, Emma Johnson, reiterated the importance of customer safety and assured cooperation with the ongoing investigation. Similarly, Republic Airways has stated it is also collaborating with authorities.
Criticism of the FAA has resurfaced after the NTSB highlighted numerous close calls in the busy airspace surrounding Reagan National in recent years.
The changes to helicopter flight paths near the airport are part of a permanent limitation established after the January incident. The FAA order includes exceptions for presidential flights, law enforcement missions, and emergency services.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, chair of the Commerce and Science Transport Committee, pointed out on X that this situation underscored the hazards posed by Army helicopters near the airport.
“I’m grateful for the swift actions of the air traffic controller and the pilot; otherwise, we could have witnessed a major disaster,” he stated.
Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, a senior committee member overseeing the FAA, remarked that the helicopter came from the same brigade involved in the January crash, noting it had resumed flights in nearby areas just days before the latest incident.
She emphasized that both Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses and the FAA need to take a more comprehensive approach—ensuring security and safety in the airspace.
