The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that air traffic control told Delta Air Lines Flight 1671, an Airbus A319 that had originated in Orlando, and Republic Airways Flight 5825, an Embraer 170 that had departed from Boston, to perform go-arounds at around 2:30 p.m. due to a priority military air transport helicopter in the vicinity.
“While conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control, a UH-60 Blackhawk was directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a ‘go-around,‘ overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures,“ the Army said in a statement.
Following a January 29 mid-air collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk that killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, the FAA imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport.
“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 memo seen by Reuters said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Army had disregarded helicopter safety rules. “No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber - besides most VIPs have black car service,“ Duffy said.
“Nothing is more important at Delta than the safety of our customers and people. We’ll cooperate with the FAA as they investigate,“ the airline said on Friday.
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that according to initial information, the military helicopter was doing an emergency evacuation rehearsal.
“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,“ she said, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The airport is located in northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., and about four miles (6.4 km) from Capitol Hill, making it popular with lawmakers, tourists and local residents.
Since 2021, there have been 85 recorded events involving a potentially dangerous near-miss between a helicopter and a plane - defined as a lateral separation of less than 1,500 feet and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet, the National Transportation Safety Board said in March.
Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines and other U.S. carriers, in March urged the FAA to permanently reduce helicopter traffic around the airport. The group called on the FAA to suspend some nearby helicopter routes with limited exceptions for essential military or medical emergencies.
The FAA is investigating helicopter traffic near other major airports and last week announced changes to address safety concerns in Las Vegas. (Reporting by David Shepardson; additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Stephen Coates and Kim Coghill)
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( US agencies open probe after two Washington flights abort landings due to Army helicopter )
Also on site :