Pentagon Black Hawk Flight Sparks Safety Concerns Again \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Army confirmed Friday that controllers briefly lost contact with a Black Hawk helicopter near the Pentagon on May 1, causing two commercial flights to abort landings at Reagan National Airport. The incident renews concern over military aircraft operations in civilian airspace. A new control tower antenna has since been repositioned to prevent future issues.
Quick Looks
- Communication Breakdown: Army lost contact with helicopter for 20 seconds.
- Flights Diverted: Two commercial jets aborted landings near Reagan National.
- New Safety Measures: Control antenna repositioned atop Pentagon for clarity.
- Collision Concerns: Follows January’s fatal military-civilian aircraft crash.
- Data Issues: FAA radar feeds gave inconsistent Black Hawk positioning.
- Scenic Flight Dismissed: ADS-B data shows chopper followed approved route.
- FAA Under Pressure: Transportation chief pushing airspace tech upgrades.
- Temporary Flight Pause: Army suspended Pentagon landings after the incident.
Deep Look
The U.S. Army has revealed that a brief communication loss with a Black Hawk helicopter flying near the Pentagon earlier this month caused two commercial airliners to abort their landings at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The incident, which occurred on May 1, adds to growing anxiety surrounding military aircraft operating in tightly controlled civilian airspace—especially near one of the nation’s most sensitive landmarks.
According to Army officials speaking to the Associated Press, air traffic controllers lost contact with the Black Hawk for approximately 20 seconds as it approached a landing zone near the Pentagon. That momentary lapse triggered concern at Washington National Airport (DCA), leading controllers to abort the landings of two commercial jets — a Delta Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 — in close succession.
Ongoing Fallout From January’s Fatal Collision
The May 1 near-miss follows a January midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter that resulted in the deaths of 67 people, prompting a sweeping review of airspace safety procedures in and around the capital.
In March, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by issuing a permanent restriction on helicopters using the same corridor where the deadly collision occurred. However, the May incident has renewed scrutiny, forcing the Army to temporarily halt all helicopter landings at the Pentagon until safety concerns are fully addressed.
“It certainly led to confusion of air traffic control of where they were,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman, the Army’s top aviation officer.
Why Contact Was Lost
Braman explained that the temporary antenna serving as a control tower for the Pentagon helipad was not positioned effectively during ongoing construction of a new control tower. As a result, the low-flying Black Hawk dropped below line-of-sight with the antenna, disrupting communication.
The antenna has since been relocated to the Pentagon rooftop, ensuring better visibility and communication range for future helicopter approaches.
Complicating matters, FAA air traffic controllers at DCA struggled to accurately track the helicopter’s location. Despite the Black Hawk transmitting ADS-B Out data — which is supposed to provide real-time positional information — inconsistent signals from multiple sensors created uncertainty. Braman noted that FAA officials admitted the data they received could vary by as much as three-quarters of a mile, a gap that is significant in controlled airspace.
The FAA declined to comment on whether the equipment at Reagan National was faulty, citing the ongoing crash investigation being led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Flight Path and False Claims
Initial FAA reporting suggested the helicopter may have been on a “scenic route,” which would have raised serious concerns. However, ADS-B data reviewed by both the Army and the AP shows the helicopter closely followed its approved flight path, traveling directly up the I-395 corridor (Route 5) before circling the Pentagon.
That approach, while approved, still triggered concern in the airport tower, as the timing of the flight conflicted with commercial landing sequences. The first aborted landing occurred as the Black Hawk was initially approaching. Due to the 20-second contact loss, the Pentagon tower didn’t authorize the landing, forcing the helicopter to circle the building a second time.
At that point, the airport’s controllers — still without a solid fix on the chopper’s position — aborted the landing of a second commercial jet as a precaution.
FAA Modernization and Political Pressure
This latest scare comes amid heightened political pressure to modernize U.S. airspace control systems. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged the FAA to accelerate upgrades to its aging radar and communications infrastructure, citing not only the Reagan National incident but also recent near-misses at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Some FAA systems still rely on radar technology that predates modern GPS-based solutions, leading to growing concerns about air traffic controller workload and situational awareness in high-density areas like Washington, D.C.
The Army’s full cooperation with FAA investigations and airspace adjustments signals an interagency commitment to improving safety, but experts say systemic reform is urgently needed.
The Bigger Picture
The airspace around Washington, D.C., is some of the most heavily controlled in the world, bordered by multiple military and civilian airfields, government no-fly zones, and VIP transport routes. That complexity makes precise communication and tracking essential — and any lapse, no matter how brief, can have serious consequences.
The fact that a 20-second gap in communication triggered two aborted landings is a stark reminder of how delicate and time-sensitive modern aviation coordination has become.
With a fatal crash still fresh in public memory, and a renewed pattern of close calls, the focus is now squarely on system upgrades, flight route reassessments, and the coordination between military and civilian aviation authorities.
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