Federal investigators have launched a probe after two commercial flights aborted their landings at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on a Thursday because a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was flying too close. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the Black Hawk's operation did not proceed directly to the Pentagon Heliport, but instead took a "scenic route" around the Pentagon, potentially violating an agreement with the Army regarding flight paths.
This incident follows a deadly mid-air collision on January 29, which involved an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk, killing all 67 people on board. After this previous crash, the FAA had imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport to enhance safety. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had previously criticized the FAA for not acting on warnings from air traffic control staff about the risks posed by military helicopter traffic near DCA.
The NTSB further revealed that in 2022, an FAA working group had suggested moving helicopter traffic away from Reagan airport and establishing airborne "hot spots," but these recommendations were rejected due to political considerations. Air traffic controllers at Reagan were reportedly over-reliant on "visual separation," and concerns were raised about separation distances as small as 75 feet between helicopters and planes during landings. Following the recent incidents, the FAA has implemented new airspace rules at DCA, requiring complete cessation of air traffic when the President flies on Marine One, and mandating radar separation of at least 1.5 miles laterally or 500 feet vertically between flights.
