Transport Secretary Shawn Duffy criticized the Department of Defense on Friday after an Army helicopter caused two commercial passenger jets to adjust their landing paths at Reagan National Airport.
On Thursday, Air Traffic Control instructed Delta and Republic Airlines flights to go around due to “priority air transport helicopters inbound into the Pentagon Army heliport,” as per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Reports suggest the incident took place when an Army helicopter was navigating a “scenic route” in the vicinity of the airport.
Duffy expressed his frustration, stating, “Not accepted. Helicopter restrictions around DCA are clear. Alongside our investigation with @ntsb and @faanews, we will engage with @deptofdefense to understand why our regulations were overlooked,” which he shared via a post on social media.
A tragic collision involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane in January resulted in 67 fatalities, leading to stricter helicopter operations near the airport starting in March.
“Safety must always come first. We’ve lost 67 souls. No more helicopter rides or unnecessary training in the busy DCA airspace,” he emphasized, suggesting alternatives like taxis or Ubers instead.
The Hill reached out to the Department of Defense for comments regarding the Thursday incident, which occurred around 2:30 PM local time, according to the FAA.
Lawmakers from both parties voiced similar concerns in social media discussions.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) remarked that “it’s time for the FAA to move swiftly and assert control over the National Aviation Space, preventing the Army from operating air taxis for military personnel near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.”
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) deemed the incident “outrageous,” stating that “the Army and the FAA need to reassess operations and come back to Capitol Hill to clarify what steps must be taken to ensure the safety of DCA airspace.” She recalled a previous tragedy that “should never have happened.”
Since the deadly crash in January, officials have been reviewing FAA practices concerning air traffic controllers and advising pilots on more secure flight patterns.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will oversee the investigation into this latest occurrence, with a preliminary report expected in the weeks ahead. Representatives from Delta and Republic Airlines confirmed their commitment to cooperate fully in the investigation.
