🇺🇸 ARMY CHOPPER GOES OFF-SCRIPT—NEARLY COLLIDES WITH TWO PLANES AT REAGAN AIRPORT
An Army Black Hawk helicopter decided to take the “scenic route” near the Pentagon—and came way too close to two passenger planes trying to land in D.C.
Both jets were forced to pull up at the… https://t.co/n3K96eV5GU pic.twitter.com/S7xIRSRIv8
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 4, 2025
The chaos in D.C. airspace continues. An Army Black Hawk helicopter, flying near the Pentagon, forced two passenger jets to abort their landings at Reagan National Airport after coming dangerously close. One of the planes was just 450 feet from the ground when controllers ordered an emergency pull-up.
This is the same Army brigade involved in the catastrophic January crash that killed 67 people—the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in over two decades. That collision, between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter, led to intense scrutiny over flight operations near Reagan Airport. Yet here we are again, with military aircraft disrupting commercial flights in one of the most congested airspaces in the country.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wasted no time blasting the Army for the incident, calling it “unacceptable.” FAA officials confirmed that the Black Hawk took an unusual flight path, described as a “scenic route” around the Pentagon instead of following standard procedures. This wasn’t just a minor deviation. It was a reckless maneuver that put civilian lives at risk.
The two affected flights—Delta Flight 1671 and Republic Flight 5825—were on final approach when controllers suddenly ordered them to go around. The Black Hawk was reportedly between 200 and 2,100 feet from one plane and between 400 and 2,600 feet from the other. That’s far too close for comfort, especially in an airport already plagued by near-misses and air traffic control shortages.
Reagan National has been under fire for its deteriorating safety conditions. The control tower has struggled with staffing shortages, and last year, a literal fistfight broke out between controllers. The January crash led to new restrictions on helicopter flights near the airport, but enforcement appears to be lacking. How many more close calls before officials finally take decisive action?
The FAA and NTSB have launched investigations into the latest incident, but lawmakers are demanding immediate changes. Senator Maria Cantwell called for stricter oversight, warning that the Pentagon and FAA must “give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.” Senator Ted Cruz went further, saying he would push legislation to keep military helicopters away from civilian flight paths.
The Army insists the Black Hawk was following approved procedures, but the radar tracking system reportedly glitched, causing controllers to temporarily lose sight of the helicopter. That’s a terrifying prospect—an aircraft flying blind in one of the busiest air corridors in the country.
With Reagan National already struggling to maintain safety, this latest near-disaster raises serious concerns about air traffic control failures, military flight coordination, and the overall security of D.C. airspace. Flying into Washington is starting to feel less like routine travel and more like a high-stakes gamble.
Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/2-planes-ordered-go-army-copter-reagan-airport-rcna204588
https://www.aol.com/news/army-black-hawk-helicopter-causes-142217212.html
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/aborted-landings-army-helicopter-reagan-airport/3905596/