On 1 May 2025, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter caused a dangerous situation at Reagan National Airport (DCA).
The helicopter, en route to the Pentagon Army Heliport, strayed from its approved flight path. This forced two commercial flights to perform emergency go-arounds, raising serious safety concerns.
Reagan National Airport Loss of Separation Incident
The incident occurred around 2:30 PM local time on Thursday 1 May. Delta Air Lines flight DL1671, an Airbus A319, and Republic Airways Flight 5825, an Embraer E170, were preparing to land.
Air traffic control noticed the Black Hawk’s deviation and subsequently ordered both approaching flights to abort their landings.
This averted potential collisions, but the aircraft still passed close to the military helicopter. Republic Airways was just 0.4 miles and 200 feet away, while Delta was 0.89 miles and 400 feet apart.
These distances violated minimum separation requirements. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) labeled the incident as a “loss of separation” event.
“Scenic Route” Taken by Black Hawk
The FAA, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and U.S. Army are now investigating why the helicopter veered off course. Early reports suggest the Black Hawk was taking a “scenic route,” a decision that has drawn sharp criticism.
This incident follows strict rules set after a tragic mid-air collision on January 29, 2025, near Reagan National Airport DCA. That crash, involving a helicopter and a commercial plane, killed 67 people. As a result, non-essential helicopter flights near the airport faced tight restrictions.
The Army’s apparent disregard for these rules has outraged officials. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the incident “unacceptable,” demanding accountability.
Conclusion
The FAA recently restricted non-essential helicopter flights around DCA, effective March 2025. This ban prohibits helicopters from operating in certain areas near the airport unless they are conducting urgent missions. Exemptions include medical emergencies, active law enforcement, air defense, or presidential transport (e.g., Marine One).
This measure aims to eliminate unnecessary helicopter traffic, particularly after the NTSB highlighted the “intolerable risk” posed by mixed helicopter and fixed-wing traffic.
The investigation into the Reagan National Airport 1 May incident will focus on why the US Army Black Hawk deviated from its planned flight path.
DCA’s busy airspace, near military and government sites, makes strict adherence to flight paths critical.
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