Two commercial jets were forced to abort landings at Reagan National Airport after a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter flew dangerously close—just months after a deadly crash involving the same Army brigade.
Key Facts:
- On Thursday around 2:30 p.m., a Delta Airbus A319 and a Republic Embraer E170 had to perform “go-arounds” near Reagan National Airport (DCA).
- The maneuver was prompted by a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter inbound to the Pentagon Army Heliport.
- The Black Hawk came from the same Army brigade involved in a January crash that killed 67 people.
- Flight operations for the brigade had resumed just six days earlier, on April 25.
- The FAA and NTSB are investigating the latest incident, which occurred despite new safety protocols.
The Rest of The Story:
Two passenger planes were minutes from landing at Reagan National when air traffic control had to redirect them mid-air.
The cause: a military Black Hawk helicopter veered too close to their flight paths.
The aircraft belonged to the same Army brigade whose helicopter crashed in January, killing dozens.
BREAKING: New details show the female pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight at Reagan National Airport ignored her co-pilot’s warning and made multiple critical errors. – NYT
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 27, 2025
This recent incident comes just after the FAA began enforcing new helicopter restrictions and staffing up at DCA to prevent such events.
Senator Maria Cantwell, who serves on the Commerce Committee, strongly criticized the Pentagon and FAA, saying the repeated danger is unacceptable.
She emphasized that the same brigade had just resumed flying days before the close call.
Both the FAA and the NTSB are now looking into how this near-miss happened despite new safety rules meant to prevent it.
Commentary:
This isn’t just a freak accident—it’s a clear failure of command and control.
How is it even possible that, after a deadly midair crash just three months ago, the military would allow the exact same brigade to resume flights without ensuring full accountability and retraining?
The Pentagon seems to be playing roulette with civilian lives by letting unfit helicopter crews operate in the most congested airspace in the country.
If the military can’t guarantee these pilots are competent and won’t threaten civilian air traffic, then those helicopters should be grounded—immediately.
Every second a military chopper is allowed near Reagan Airport under the current command is a second closer to another disaster.
The FAA bears responsibility too. Restrictions are meaningless if no one enforces them or ensures compliance.
Lives are on the line. The next “close call” might not end as safely.
The Bottom Line:
Two commercial planes were nearly involved in a catastrophe at Reagan Airport due to the reckless actions of a military helicopter.
The fact that this involved the same Army brigade responsible for a deadly crash earlier this year makes the situation even more disturbing.
Rules are in place, yet they’re being ignored.
Without immediate action, it’s only a matter of time before this incompetence leads to another tragedy.
Read Next
– Michael Waltz Out as Trump Administration National Security Director
– Judge Frees Man Who Fire Bombed A Tesla Dealership To Receive ‘Gender Affirming Care’
– Patel and Bongino Start to Clean House, Kneeling Agents in Iconic George Floyd Photo Get Bad News
– Deportation Flight Leaves U.S.—But This Time, Another Country Paid For It
– A Federal Judge Just Issued an INSANE Order Designed to Block The Border Patrol From Doing Its Job