Two commercial flights were forced to abort landings at Reagan National Airport after a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter entered restricted airspace, sparking a major investigation just months after a deadly midair collision.
At a Glance
- Delta Air Lines Flight 1671 and Republic Airways Flight 5825 performed go-arounds due to a Black Hawk helicopter’s proximity
- The FAA is investigating whether the helicopter violated an agreement with the Army by taking a “scenic route” instead of proceeding directly to the Pentagon Heliport
- The incident occurred just three months after a fatal midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter killed 67 people
- The FAA has imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport
- Between October 2021 and December 2024, 85 near-miss events involving helicopters and planes have been recorded at the airport
Commercial Flights Forced to Abort Landings
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations after two commercial aircraft were ordered to abort landings at Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday due to a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in the vicinity. The incident has raised serious concerns about air traffic safety around one of the nation’s busiest airports, particularly following a deadly collision earlier this year between a passenger jet and military helicopter.
According to the FAA, air traffic controllers instructed Delta Air Lines Flight 1671 and Republic Airways Flight 5825, operating as American Eagle, to perform go-arounds because of the helicopter’s proximity to the airspace. The Black Hawk was reportedly conducting operations as part of a Joint Emergency Evacuation Plan and was flying below 200 feet, the general altitude restriction for helicopters near Reagan National.
Helicopter Route Under Scrutiny
The FAA stated that the helicopter appeared to have deviated from its expected flight path, raising questions about compliance with established protocols. “It appears the Black Hawk operation did not proceed directly to the Pentagon Heliport. Instead it took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport,” the FAA reported in its preliminary findings about the incident.
However, the Army has defended the helicopter’s route, claiming that the Black Hawk was following FAA flight routes and was directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control. U.S. Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib stated, “The incident is currently under investigation. The United States Army remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures.”
Officials React with Concern
The incident prompted strong reactions from government officials, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who called the situation “unacceptable” and emphasized that safety must be the priority. Senator Maria Cantwell expressed outrage, noting that the same Army brigade was involved in a fatal collision just months earlier.
“It is outrageous that only three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach at [the airport]. This comes less than a week after this brigade resumed flights in the National Capital Region. It is far past time for Secretary Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.”, said Sen. Maria Cantwell
Senator Ted Cruz also weighed in on the severity of the situation, stating, “Thank God there was a decisive response from air traffic controllers and pilots, or else these two close calls could have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives.” The NTSB has previously described the congested airspace around Reagan National as presenting an “intolerable risk to aviation safety.”
New Safety Measures Implemented
In response to the January collision and this recent incident, the FAA has implemented several safety measures around Reagan National Airport. These include permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations, the closure of a key route commonly used by helicopters, and a ban on the use of two smaller runways during urgent helicopter missions.
Delta Air Lines has pledged full cooperation with the investigation, stating, “Nothing is more important at Delta than the safety of our customers and people. We’ll cooperate with the FAA as they investigate.” Republic Airways has similarly committed to assisting authorities in determining what transpired.
The FAA has also announced that it is reviewing helicopter traffic patterns near other major airports across the country to address similar safety concerns and prevent future incidents. With 85 near-miss events recorded at Reagan National between October 2021 and December 2024, the pressure is mounting for more stringent regulations governing the interaction between commercial and military aircraft in congested airspaces.
