US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has expressed his strong disapproval of a recent air traffic incident in which two commercial planes had to abort their landings at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport due to a Black Hawk helicopter en route to the Pentagon. Duffy deemed the situation “unacceptable” and announced that both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the matter.
The two aircraft — a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 — received instructions from air traffic control around 2:30 PM to perform go-arounds because of a “priority air transport” helicopter. Duffy emphasised the importance of safety in aviation, stating, “Safety must ALWAYS come first” on social media. He used this incident to highlight the seriousness of airspace management and noted the recent tragedy in January, where a midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter resulted in the loss of 67 lives.
In response to the earlier deadly collision, the FAA had implemented new restrictions for helicopter flights near the airport. Duffy reiterated that unnecessary helicopter operations, especially in civilian-dense airspace, should be reconsidered, suggesting alternative transportation for VIPs.
The exact status of the Black Hawk helicopter’s compliance with restricted airspace during Thursday’s incident remains unclear. The FAA has faced scrutiny over a rise in near-miss events in Washington’s congested airspace and is now under increased pressure to ensure aviation safety standards are rigorously adhered to. The restrictions enacted after the January incident are intended to remain permanent, with exceptions allowed only for necessary missions, including presidential and emergency operations.
Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell remarked that it’s crucial for both the Department of Defence and FAA to focus on the security of the airspace, emphasising that the recent events underscore the urgent need for reform in how airspace safety is managed.
Delta Air Lines expressed its commitment to passenger safety by indicating that it will fully cooperate with authorities during the investigation. Similarly, Republic Airways has stated its willingness to assist with the inquiry. However, there has been no immediate response from the US Army regarding the incident.
This situation highlights the significant risks associated with military and commercial aviation interactions, igniting calls for better safety measures to protect civilian aircraft operations and maintain public confidence in air travel.