A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter lands at a military airbase. Getty Images
A recent incident involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter forced two commercial flights to abort their landings at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This occurred when the helicopter crew took an unexpected route, which led to a dangerous close call with the planes.
The Incident
On Thursday, May 1, an Army Black Hawk helicopter deviated from its planned route. Instead of heading directly to the heliport, it took a "scenic route" around the Pentagon, as reported by Chris Senn, the FAA assistant administrator. This unexpected change caused a problem for two incoming commercial flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 were both told by air traffic control to perform "go-arounds." This means the planes had to circle and wait for a safe opportunity to land. The go-arounds happened around 2:30 p.m. local time, as the helicopter’s route caused a disruption in the airspace.
Safety Violation
The incident was classified as a safety violation by the FAA. The helicopter’s movement caused what is known as a "loss of separation." This happens when aircraft get too close to each other in the same airspace. In this case, the helicopter came dangerously close to the planes. The Black Hawk was only 0.4 miles and 200 feet from the Republic flight and less than a mile and 400 feet from the Delta plane. These distances violated safety rules that are designed to keep aircraft a safe distance apart.
One major issue during the event was that air traffic controllers didn’t have real-time tracking of the helicopter. Its radar information was temporarily lost and moved to a different location, making it difficult for controllers to track the aircraft accurately.
Reaction from Officials
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was quick to comment on the incident, calling it "unacceptable." He expressed his concerns about the safety risks of helicopter operations near busy airports like D.C.’s. Duffy promised to raise the issue with the Department of Defense to understand why the safety rules were ignored.
The incident is especially alarming because just three months ago, a deadly collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet occurred at the same airport, killing all 67 people onboard both aircraft.
Army's Response
The Army defended the actions of the Black Hawk crew. A spokesperson, Capt. Victoria Goldfedib, explained that the helicopter was following FAA flight routes and air traffic control instructions. However, the Pentagon directed the helicopter to "go-around" and overfly the Pentagon helipad, which led to the flight path change.
Investigation Underway
This near-miss is currently being investigated by both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB will lead the investigation to determine the cause and any steps that need to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Public Concern
Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington State criticized the incident. She found it outrageous that, just months after the deadly crash, a similar event occurred involving the same Army brigade. She called on the Pentagon and FAA to focus more on the security and safety of airspace around busy airports like D.C.’s.
