Planes execute avoidance maneuvers to dodge a military helicopter in proximity to Reagan Washington National Airport.
Let's dive into the latest aviation drama at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Mark Meredith, our man on the ground, reports on the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigation following a series of harrowing incidents in the first half of 2025.
On Thursday, two planes were forced to perform "go-arounds" to dodge a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, echoing the tragic mid-air collision that took place at DCA in January, claiming the lives of 67 individuals.
At around 2:30 p.m., an Airbus A319 from Delta Air Lines and an Embraer E170 from Republic Airways were given "go-arounds" due to an inbound Black Hawk, as per statements from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB. The Black Hawk, operated by Priority Air Transport, took an unusual route towards the Pentagon Army Heliport, causing controllers to call for two "go-arounds."
In an email to our digital platform, Chris Senn, FAA’s assistant administrator for government and industry affairs, explained that the aircraft involved in Thursday's incident were not within the restricted mixed traffic area of the airport. However, the FAA will investigate whether the Army violated its flight approvals.
The Department of Defense is "aware of reports" about the incident, according to their official statement. Both planes were on their final descent at the time of the encounter. As the Black Hawk pressed on, the proximity between the Republic flight and the helicopter grew dangerously close— approximating 0.4 miles and 200 feet apart.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., confirmed that the Black Hawk helicopter came from the same Army Aviation brigade as the helicopter involved in the disastrous January collision over the Potomac River.
According to reports, the Black Hawk pilot failed to heed advice in the crucial moments prior to the January 2024 plane collision over DC. Meanwhile, the May 2025 incident occurred just weeks after the FAA increased staffing and oversight for the DCA air traffic control team.
To mitigate such disasters, the FAA has imposed stringent regulations for helicopter operations around DCA:
- Non-essential operations banned: Helicopter flights with non-critical purposes (e.g., VIP transport, non-emergency training) are prohibited[1][3].
- Mixed traffic elimination: Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are no longer allowed to share airspace simultaneously, lowering collision risks[1][3].
- Route closures: The Potomac River corridor, previously used by helicopters, is off-limits to rotorcraft[3][5].
These measures aim to address prevalent risks in one of America’s busiest airspaces, but recent incidents suggest that compliance challenges continue to persist[4][5].
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
[1] FAA Permanently Restricts Washington Helicopter Traffic After Fatal Midair Collision Near DC Airport: Link[2] NTSB Begins Investigation into DCA Go-Around Incident: Link[3] Ongoing NTSB Investigation Sheds Light on Systemic Risks at DCA: Link[4] FAA Increasing Air Traffic Control Staff, Supervisors at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: Link[5] The Military's Role in Recent DCA Aviation Incidents Under Scrutiny: Link
- The recent incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) involving a Black Hawk helicopter, an Airbus A319 from Delta Air Lines, and an Embraer E170 from Republic Airways has been confirmed to be under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), following a series of near-miss incidents in the first half of 2025.
- The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has disproportionately focused on the recent incident at DCA, given its potential implications for aviation safety and politics.
- The Black Hawk helicopter involved in the May 2025 incident was confirmed to be from the same Army Aviation brigade as the helicopter involved in the disastrous January 2024 plane collision over the Potomac River.
- Breaking news: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that it will investigate whether the Army violated its flight approvals in relation to the May 2025 incident at DCA.
- Financial institutions and the transportation industry are closely watching the developments at DCA, as accidents in busy airspaces can have significant financial and social impacts.
- Despite the FAA's efforts to impose stringent regulations for helicopter operations at DCA, recent incidents suggest that compliance challenges continue to persist, disproportionately jeopardizing the safety of passengers and crew in the general-news and aviation sectors.
