Close Calls Over Washington: Helicopters and Airplanes in Tight Spaces

The National Transportation Safety Board is looking into two commercial flights that had to abort their landings at Washington Reagan National Airport. This happened on a Thursday afternoon when a US Army Black Hawk helicopter was heading towards the Pentagon. The helicopter was part of the same unit involved in a tragic midair collision in January. That crash involved American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter, resulting in the loss of 67 lives. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating. They reported that air traffic controllers had to instruct Delta flight 1671 and Republic flight 5825 to perform go-arounds. This was due to a Priority Air Transport helicopter that was approaching the Pentagon Army Heliport. The incident occurred around 2:30 p. m. ET. A US Army spokesperson confirmed that the Black Hawk had to conduct a go-around as directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control. This action was taken to avoid any potential conflicts in the airspace. The spokesperson also mentioned that the incident is under investigation. The Army emphasized its commitment to aviation safety and adherence to all approved guidelines and procedures. Following the incident, a senator who oversees the FAA called for increased attention to the safety and security of the nation's airspace. The senator expressed outrage that the same Army brigade was again involved in a close call with passenger jets. This incident occurred just days after the brigade resumed flights in the National Capital Region.

Another senator, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, also weighed in. He stated that legislation might be necessary to ensure the safety of the flying public. He suggested that the FAA needs to take control of the national airspace to prevent such incidents. The FAA provided details about the proximity of the flights to the helicopter. Delta Flight 1671 came within 0. 89 miles and 400 feet of the helicopter. Republic Flight 5825 was even closer, at 0. 4 miles and 200 feet. A preliminary FAA report indicated that the Black Hawk did not take a direct route to the Pentagon Heliport. Instead, it took a more circuitous path. The report also noted that the helicopter was not in a restricted area established by the FAA after the January midair collision. The Black Hawk involved in the incident was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the same unit involved in the January crash. The collision in January occurred under clear skies in some of the country’s busiest and most controlled airspace. The passenger jet was about to land when it was struck by the military helicopter. Investigators found that the helicopter's altimeter may have been inaccurate, and the pilots might not have heard some calls from the control tower. The NTSB has identified a significant number of near-miss events nationwide, highlighting the potential for future midair collisions. The airspace near Washington Reagan National Airport has been under intense scrutiny. In response to the January crash, helicopter traffic was banned on a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River. This ban was recommended by the NTSB. The Transportation Secretary suggested that the Pentagon might need to consider ground transportation more often to avoid putting commercial flights at risk. Air traffic controllers had to divert flights for necessary helicopter movements, such as when the President leaves the White House on Marine One. This has led to flight delays and diversions.

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