Investigation Underway over Aborted Landings at Reagan National Airport Due to Army Helicopter Nearby
Exploring the Chaos in Washington's Skies: Two Aborted Landings and a Black Hawk Close Call
Washington, D.C., a city brimming with hustle and bustle, has found itself in a tangled web of aviation drama. Two commercial flights had to abort their landings at Reagan National Airport on a chaotic Thursday, with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter cruising nearby towards the Pentagon.
The skies over Reagan have been under a microscope since tragedy struck on January 29, when an Army helicopter collided mid-air with American Airlines Flight 5342, claiming the lives of 67 souls. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently delving into the latest incident, which reeked of eerie reminders of the past.
As the clock struck 2:30 p.m. ET, air traffic controllers instructed Delta's flight 1671 and Republic's flight 5825 to perform go-arounds due to a Priority Air Transport helicopter inbound to the Pentagon Army Heliport. A UH-60 Blackhawk, under the control of Pentagon Air Traffic Control, was maneuvering its way around the Pentagon helipad, leading to the 'go-around' order for the commercial flights to deconflict the airspace.
Under scrutiny yet again is the Army's excursion management plan, with Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington demanding increased oversight. She denounced the Army's reckless proximity to passenger jets, asserting that it's appalling such incidents persist despite the recent collision. Sen. Ted Cruz has vowed to push for legislation to safeguard the flying public from these precarious Army helicopter flights near the airport.
According to the FAA, Delta Flight 1671 came within 0.89 miles and 400 feet of the helicopter, while Republic 5825 flew within 0.4 miles and 200 feet. A preliminary FAA report suggests that the Black Hawk's route took a scenic detour around the Pentagon rather than following the direct westward approach to the heliport. Contrarily, the helicopter was not found in the restricted area set up by the FAA after the January collision.
The Black Hawk in question hailed from the 12th Aviation Battalion based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the very same unit involved in the disastrous Potomac crash. Amidst the swirling investigations, the FAA's Jennifer Homendy echoed concerns regarding the potential for future mid-air collisions.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, acting on the NTSB's advice, imposed a four-mile ban on helicopter traffic over the Potomac River following the January crash. However, planes at the airport are often diverted or delayed for necessary helicopter flights, such as when President Donald Trump takes off in Marine One, which has drawn concern. Duffy proposes that the Pentagon may need to explore ground transportation more frequently, emphasizing the potential dangers faced by commercial flights when helicopters are in the mix.
Over the years, near-misses between helicopters and planes at Reagan National Airport have become disturbingly common. Numerous probes are underway to scrutinize the safety measures surrounding aviation traffic in the region's congested skies. As the investigations unfurl, Washington DC braces for more revelations and the promise of change.
- Tragically reminiscent of the past, the latest helicopter incident near Reagan National Airport has sparked calls for policy-and-legislation changes in the politics of Washington, with Sen. Maria Cantwell asserting the need for increased oversight due to the Army's "reckless proximity" to passenger jets.
- In the realm of general-news, Sen. Ted Cruz has vowed to push for new legislation to safeguard the flying public from precarious Army helicopter flights near the airport, following the Army's UH-60 Blackhawk coming close to commercial flights Delta Flight 1671 and Republic 5825.
- A sports analogy might be fitting when comparing this situation to a game of soccer, as the events over the skies of Potomac are often punctuated by near-misses, with accidents marking the goals that fuel investigations and debates about safety measures.
- Crime-and-justice may also find a connection in this story, as the FAA's Jennifer Homendy has raised concerns about the potential for future mid-air collisions and questioned the Army's excursion management plan, echoing the fears of potential repercussions if proper precautions are not taken.
- Under scrutiny yet again, the 12th Aviation Battalion, responsible for the Potomac crash, operated the Black Hawk involved in the close call at Reagan National Airport, adding more fuel to the fire of investigations surrounding aviation safety and the need for improvements in policy and management.
