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FAA Weighs New Restrictions on Pentagon Helicopter Flights After Safety Failures

The FAA is repairing a broken hotline and reviewing military helicopter operations near Reagan National Airport following a deadly collision and a recent near-miss.

Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Organization Deputy Chief Operating Officer Franklin McIntosh speaks during a Senate Transportation Committee hearing to examine Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization and aviation safety on May 14 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • The FAA confirmed that a critical hotline between Reagan National Airport and the Pentagon has been inoperable since March 2022, undermining communication during flight operations.
  • A January 29 collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet killed 67 people, leading to the temporary suspension of a key Army helicopter route in March.
  • On May 1, a near-miss incident involving an Army helicopter forced two commercial flights to abort landings, exposing the broken hotline and prompting immediate action.
  • Military helicopter flights to the Pentagon have been suspended since May 5 and will not resume until the hotline is repaired, according to FAA officials.
  • The FAA is meeting with Pentagon officials to discuss potential new restrictions on non-emergency military helicopter operations near Reagan National to prevent future safety risks.