Latest news with #Flight1671
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two flights abort landings at Reagan National Airport due to Black Hawk helicopter
ARLINGTON, Va. () — Two flights had to abort their landings at Reagan National Airport (DCA) Thursday due to a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter nearby, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced Friday. NTSB said a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 were instructed by air traffic controllers to perform go-arounds. This was due to the Black Hawk helicopter being inbound to the Pentagon. NTSB calls for changes to helicopter operations around DCA following deadly midair collision In a statement shared with DC News Now, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided the following details: Air traffic control instructed Delta Air lines Flight 1671 and Republic Airways Flight 5825 to perform go-arounds at the Reagan Washington National Airport due to a Priority Air Transport helicopter inbound to the Pentagon Army Heliport. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the event that occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 1. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates. Federal Aviation Administration After a deadly collision at DCA earlier this year, the FAA imposed on helicopter operations around the airport. between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter killed 67 people. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
FAA, NTSB investigate after two Washington flights abort landings due to nearby army helicopter
A mid-air collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter killed 67 people in January 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS - US federal investigators have launched a probe after two flights aborted landings at Reagan Washington National Airport, or DCA, on May 1 because a US Army Black Hawk helicopter was too close. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on May 2 that air traffic control told Delta Air Lines Flight 1671, an Airbus A319 that had originated in Orlando, and Republic Airways Flight 5825, an Embraer 170 that had departed from Boston, to perform go-arounds at around 2.30pm due to a priority military air transport helicopter in the vicinity. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the US Army are also investigating. 'While conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control, a UH-60 Black Hawk was directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a 'go-around', overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures,' the US Army said in a statement. 'As a result, DCA Air Traffic Control issued a 'go-around' to two civil fixed wing aircraft to ensure the appropriate de-confliction of airspace.' Following a Jan 29 mid-air collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk that killed 67 people, the FAA imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport. The FAA told Congress it was reviewing the army helicopter's route in the two 'loss of separation' incidents on May 1 and whether the route violates an agreement with the Army. 'It appears the Black Hawk operation did not proceed directly to the Pentagon Heliport. Instead it took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport,' the FAA memo seen by Reuters said. Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz said 'the army is once again putting the travelling public at risk… It's time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace, so the army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport'. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the army had disregarded helicopter safety rules. 'No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber – besides, most VIPs have black car service,' Mr Duffy said. Delta said there were five crew and 97 passengers on the flight. 'Nothing is more important at Delta than the safety of our customers and people. We'll cooperate with the FAA as they investigate,' the airline said on May 2. The Pentagon did not immediately comment. A person involved said investigators are reviewing the helicopter's route and interactions with air traffic control. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that according to initial information, the military helicopter was doing an emergency evacuation rehearsal. 'It is outrageous that only three months after an army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach at (Reagan Washington),' Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee, said. 'This comes less than a week after this brigade resumed flights in the National Capital Region. It is far past time for Secretary Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.' Republic Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The airport is located in northern Virginia, just outside Washington and about 6.4km from Capitol Hill, making it popular with lawmakers, tourists and local residents. The FAA in March permanently closed one key route and prohibited the use of two smaller runways at the airport when helicopters conducting urgent missions are operating near the airport. Since 2021, there have been 85 recorded events involving a potentially dangerous near-miss between a helicopter and a plane – defined as a lateral separation of less than 460m and a vertical separation of less than 60m, the National Transportation Safety Board said in March. A number of recent safety incidents at the airport have raised alarm, including a March 28 incident involving a Delta flight and a group of Air Force jets. Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines and other US carriers, in March urged the FAA to permanently reduce helicopter traffic around the airport. The group called on the FAA to suspend some nearby helicopter routes, with limited exceptions for essential military or medical emergencies. The army has also come under fire for routinely turning off a key safety system known as ADS-B during training missions in the Washington area. The FAA is investigating helicopter traffic near other major airports and last week announced changes to address safety concerns in Las Vegas. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Planes forced into 'go-arounds' after Army helicopter's 'scenic' route to Pentagon
May 3 (UPI) -- Two commercial aircraft scheduled to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Thursday afternoon were forced to do "go-arounds" after a military helicopter allegedly took a scenic route to the Pentagon. Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 on Thursday were instructed by air traffic controllers to conduct go-arounds, which are maneuvers to abandon their planned landings and circle around for another approach. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident along with the Federal Aviation Administration, said in a statement that the go-arounds were ordered because of a "U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter inbound to the Pentagon." The FAA, which identified the flights as Delta Air Lines Flight 1671 and Republic Airways Flight 5825, said the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. EST on Thursday. Flight data from FlightAware shows the planes were delayed less than ten minutes. UPI has reached out to the FAA for a summary of the incident, which was obtained by the Washington Post and reportedly described the route the helicopter took as "scenic." In the summary, the FAA found that the military helicopter was not in airspace that was newly restricted after a commercial plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk near the airport mid-air earlier this year, killing 67 people. The FAA summary report found that the helicopter did not fly directly to the Pentagon from Fort Belvoir in Virginia and instead went around the Pentagon's south and east sides, according to the Washington Post. U.S. Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib told NBC News that the helicopter was flying "in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control" when it was told to do another pass by air traffic control at the Pentagon. Flight 1671 was the first to abort its landing while carrying 97 passengers and five crew from Orlando, according to the Washington Post. Then, the helicopter's radar tracker went unresponsive for a few seconds as Flight 5825 was set to land, prompting air traffic controllers to abort that landing. That plane came within a half mile of colliding with the Black Hawk, which was coasting just 200 feet below it. While an anonymous U.S. Army official shot down the characterization that helicopter's route was "scenic," the incident was criticized by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as "unacceptable." "Our helicopter restrictions around DCA are crystal clear," he said. "Safety must ALWAYS come first. We just lost 67 souls! No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber -- besides most VIPs have black car service." Duffy said he would be talking to the Defense Department about "why the hell" the rules were "disregarded."
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
US agencies open probe after two Washington flights abort landings due to Army helicopter
WASHINGTON: Federal investigators have launched a probe after two flights aborted landings at Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday because a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter too close. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that air traffic control told Delta Air Lines Flight 1671, an Airbus A319 that had originated in Orlando, and Republic Airways Flight 5825, an Embraer 170 that had departed from Boston, to perform go-arounds at around 2:30 p.m. due to a priority military air transport helicopter in the vicinity. The National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Army are also investigating. 'While conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control, a UH-60 Blackhawk was directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a 'go-around,' overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures,' the Army said in a statement. 'As a result, DCA Air Traffic Control issued a 'go-around' to two civil fixed wing aircraft to ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.' Following a January 29 mid-air collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk that killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, the FAA imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport. The FAA told Congress it was reviewing the Army helicopter's route in the two 'loss of separation' incidents on Thursday and whether the route violates an agreement with the Army. 'It appears the Black Hawk operation did not proceed directly to the Pentagon Heliport. Instead it took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport,' the FAA memo seen by Reuters said. Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz said 'the Army is once again putting the traveling public at risk ... It's time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace so the Army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.' Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Army had disregarded helicopter safety rules. 'No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber - besides most VIPs have black car service,' Duffy said. Delta said there were five crew and 97 passengers aboard the flight. 'Nothing is more important at Delta than the safety of our customers and people. We'll cooperate with the FAA as they investigate,' the airline said on Friday. The Pentagon did not immediately comment. A person involved said investigators are reviewing the helicopter's route and interactions with air traffic control. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that according to initial information, the military helicopter was doing an emergency evacuation rehearsal. 'It is outrageous that only three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach at (Reagan Washington),' said Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee. 'This comes less than a week after this brigade resumed flights in the National Capital Region. It is far past time for Secretary Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves,' she said, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Republic Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The airport is located in northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., and about four miles (6.4 km) from Capitol Hill, making it popular with lawmakers, tourists and local residents. The FAA in March permanently closed one key route and prohibited the use of two smaller runways at the airport when helicopters conducting urgent missions are operating near the airport. Since 2021, there have been 85 recorded events involving a potentially dangerous near-miss between a helicopter and a plane - defined as a lateral separation of less than 1,500 feet and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet, the National Transportation Safety Board said in March. A number of recent safety incidents at the airport have raised alarm, including a March 28 incident involving a Delta flight and a group of Air Force jets. Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines and other U.S. carriers, in March urged the FAA to permanently reduce helicopter traffic around the airport. The group called on the FAA to suspend some nearby helicopter routes with limited exceptions for essential military or medical emergencies. The Army has also come under fire for routinely turning off a key safety system known as ADS-B during training missions in the Washington area. The FAA is investigating helicopter traffic near other major airports and last week announced changes to address safety concerns in Las Vegas. (Reporting by David Shepardson; additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Stephen Coates and Kim Coghill)
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Army Black Hawk Prompts Reagan Airport Safety Probe
WASHINGTON: Federal investigators have launched a probe after two flights aborted landings at Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday because a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter too close. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that air traffic control told Delta Air Lines Flight 1671, an Airbus A319 that had originated in Orlando, and Republic Airways Flight 5825, an Embraer 170 that had departed from Boston, to perform go-arounds at around 2:30 p.m. due to a priority military air transport helicopter in the vicinity. The National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Army are also investigating. 'While conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control, a UH-60 Blackhawk was directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a 'go-around,' overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures,' the Army said in a statement. 'As a result, DCA Air Traffic Control issued a 'go-around' to two civil fixed wing aircraft to ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.' Following a January 29 mid-air collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk that killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, the FAA imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport. The FAA told Congress it was reviewing the Army helicopter's route in the two 'loss of separation' incidents on Thursday and whether the route violates an agreement with the Army. 'It appears the Black Hawk operation did not proceed directly to the Pentagon Heliport. Instead it took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport,' the FAA memo seen by Reuters said. Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz said 'the Army is once again putting the traveling public at risk ... It's time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace so the Army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.' Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Army had disregarded helicopter safety rules. 'No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber - besides most VIPs have black car service,' Duffy said. Delta said there were five crew and 97 passengers aboard the flight. 'Nothing is more important at Delta than the safety of our customers and people. We'll cooperate with the FAA as they investigate,' the airline said on Friday. The Pentagon did not immediately comment. A person involved said investigators are reviewing the helicopter's route and interactions with air traffic control. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that according to initial information, the military helicopter was doing an emergency evacuation rehearsal. 'It is outrageous that only three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach at (Reagan Washington),' said Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee. 'This comes less than a week after this brigade resumed flights in the National Capital Region. It is far past time for Secretary Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves,' she said, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Republic Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The airport is located in northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., and about four miles (6.4 km) from Capitol Hill, making it popular with lawmakers, tourists and local residents. The FAA in March permanently closed one key route and prohibited the use of two smaller runways at the airport when helicopters conducting urgent missions are operating near the airport. Since 2021, there have been 85 recorded events involving a potentially dangerous near-miss between a helicopter and a plane - defined as a lateral separation of less than 1,500 feet and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet, the National Transportation Safety Board said in March. A number of recent safety incidents at the airport have raised alarm, including a March 28 incident involving a Delta flight and a group of Air Force jets. Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines and other U.S. carriers, in March urged the FAA to permanently reduce helicopter traffic around the airport. The group called on the FAA to suspend some nearby helicopter routes with limited exceptions for essential military or medical emergencies. The Army has also come under fire for routinely turning off a key safety system known as ADS-B during training missions in the Washington area. The FAA is investigating helicopter traffic near other major airports and last week announced changes to address safety concerns in Las Vegas. (Reporting by David Shepardson; additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Stephen Coates and Kim Coghill)
