Army halts helicopter operations near Reagan National Airport following DOT’s safety concerns
The announcement was made three days after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged military VIPs to “take a taxi or Uber” instead of using helicopters in D.C.’s congested airspace.
TroibNews 
The Army announced on Monday that it has suspended helicopter flights into the Pentagon following an incident last week involving a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This situation led to air traffic controllers diverting two commercial flights that were trying to land.
The suspension specifically impacts helicopter operations from the 12th Aviation Battalion, which is responsible for evacuating political VIPs in emergencies. This action is pending an internal inquiry, according to Lt. Col. Patrick Husted, a spokesperson for the unit overseeing Army operations in the nation’s capital. Earlier this year, a Black Hawk helicopter from the same battalion collided with an airliner near Reagan National, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals on both aircraft.
An email from an FAA official on Friday revealed that an Army Black Hawk helicopter “took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport” on Thursday, causing controllers at Reagan National to call for two passenger planes to abort their landings.
The incident drew sharp criticism from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who labeled the flight "unacceptable" on social media and stated that he would be speaking with the Defense Department “to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded.”
Airport operations have faced intense scrutiny since the January crash, which is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Under Duffy's direction, the Department of Transportation has already closed some helicopter flight routes near the airport, and personnel in the airport control tower have been reassigned.
Last week's occurrence also incited bipartisan anger among lawmakers who are investigating the earlier disaster and other near-miss incidents at the airport.
“The Army is once again putting the traveling public at risk,” Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz stated in an X post on Friday. He emphasized his commitment to developing legislation to safeguard travelers at Reagan National.
The FAA did not immediately comment on the Army's decision to suspend flights to the Pentagon.
In response to the incident, the Army maintained that the Thursday helicopter flight was conducted “in accordance with published FAA flight routes.” Capt. Victoria Goldfedib, a U.S. Army spokesperson, noted that Pentagon controllers directed the helicopter to perform a go-around, leading to Reagan National controllers taking action to “ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.”
Goldfedib asserted that the Army “remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures” while the investigation continues.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
The suspension specifically impacts helicopter operations from the 12th Aviation Battalion, which is responsible for evacuating political VIPs in emergencies. This action is pending an internal inquiry, according to Lt. Col. Patrick Husted, a spokesperson for the unit overseeing Army operations in the nation’s capital. Earlier this year, a Black Hawk helicopter from the same battalion collided with an airliner near Reagan National, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals on both aircraft.
An email from an FAA official on Friday revealed that an Army Black Hawk helicopter “took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport” on Thursday, causing controllers at Reagan National to call for two passenger planes to abort their landings.
The incident drew sharp criticism from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who labeled the flight "unacceptable" on social media and stated that he would be speaking with the Defense Department “to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded.”
Airport operations have faced intense scrutiny since the January crash, which is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Under Duffy's direction, the Department of Transportation has already closed some helicopter flight routes near the airport, and personnel in the airport control tower have been reassigned.
Last week's occurrence also incited bipartisan anger among lawmakers who are investigating the earlier disaster and other near-miss incidents at the airport.
“The Army is once again putting the traveling public at risk,” Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz stated in an X post on Friday. He emphasized his commitment to developing legislation to safeguard travelers at Reagan National.
The FAA did not immediately comment on the Army's decision to suspend flights to the Pentagon.
In response to the incident, the Army maintained that the Thursday helicopter flight was conducted “in accordance with published FAA flight routes.” Capt. Victoria Goldfedib, a U.S. Army spokesperson, noted that Pentagon controllers directed the helicopter to perform a go-around, leading to Reagan National controllers taking action to “ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.”
Goldfedib asserted that the Army “remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures” while the investigation continues.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
