The U.S. Army has announced a suspension of helicopter flights near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and the Pentagon.
This decision follows a concerning incident on May 1, 2025, involving a Black Hawk helicopter from the 12th Aviation Battalion.
The helicopter’s unauthorized path through restricted airspace forced two commercial jets—Delta Air Lines Flight 1671 and Republic Airways Flight 5825—to abort their landings at DCA.
The Army’s move aims to ensure safety while an internal investigation unfolds into the loss of separation incident.
Recent Loss of Separation Incident
The May 1 incident occurred when the Black Hawk, operated by the 12th Aviation Battalion, took a “scenic route” around the Pentagon instead of following its designated path to the Pentagon Heliport.
This battalion is tasked with VIP evacuations during emergencies, making its operations critical. However, the helicopter’s deviation led to a dangerous “loss of separation” with the inbound commercial flights.
The Black Hawk came within 0.89 miles and 400 feet of the Delta flight and just 0.4 miles and 200 feet of the Republic flight. The close proximity in restricted airspace raised immediate safety concerns.
Scrutiny After Fatal Collision
The fatal collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight has intensified scrutiny of flight operations at the Washington airport.
On 29 January 2025, an Army Black Hawk collided midair with an American Airlines regional jet near the airport. The accident resulted in 67 fatalities, with no survivors from the two aircraft which fell into the Potomac River. That tragedy prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter traffic in the area.
The latest incident has intensified scrutiny from national bodies. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched their own investigations alongside the Army’s probe.
Lawmakers are now calling for action. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell have urged stricter airspace safety measures to prevent future incidents.
The bipartisan push reflects growing concerns about the risks of military and commercial aircraft sharing crowded airspace near the nation’s capital.
Conclusion
For now, the Army has paused training missions near Reagan National DCA and the Pentagon, though flights from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, continue. The suspension underscores the need for rigorous safety protocols in high-stakes airspace.
As investigations proceed, the public and officials alike await answers on how to balance military operations with commercial aviation safety. The outcome could shape airspace policies for years to come, ensuring tragedies like the January collision are never repeated.
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