Military Helicopter Nearly Collides with Commercial Jet at Ronald Reagan National Airport – Preliminary NTSB Report Highlights Lack of Proper Clearance and Overworked Controllers

A military helicopter bound for the Pentagon came within less than half a mile of a commercial jet landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in May, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

At their closest, the Army Black Hawk and the Delta Air Lines regional jet were just four tenths of a mile apart, separated by a mere 200 feet in altitude. This proximity prompted air traffic controllers in the airport tower to force the commercial jet to abort its landing.

The helicopter was approaching the Pentagon from the southwest, while three planes were preparing for landing at Reagan National Airport – an American Airlines regional jet arriving from Maine, a Delta flight from Orlando, and the Delta regional jet from Boston, which was involved in the near miss.

The report reveals that the Black Hawk pilots coordinated their landing plans with the air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport, allowing space between the American Airlines and subsequent Delta flights for the helicopter to land. However, controllers from a different facility had previously slotted the other Delta plane into this gap.

When the helicopter pilot expressed confidence in their ability to land, the airport controller instructed the Delta flight from Orlando to go-around and circle the airport. The NTSB report notes that the helicopter pilot then attempted to land at the Pentagon helipad without clearance, and when questioned, aborted the landing and circled for another attempt.

Upon questioning by the controller about clearance, the crew responded that they were executing a go-around. Simultaneously, the airport tower saw the Black Hawk climb back up above the Pentagon building and immediately issued a go-around to the approaching regional jet, according to a post-incident interview, as stated by the NTSB.

The report also highlights that some of the controllers in the airport control tower were working two positions at the time of the near miss. The local controller, who was also involved with training in the tower that day, was responsible for both the air traffic and helicopter control positions.

The preliminary report does not assign blame or determine the cause of the close calls, details which will be included in a final report, typically completed within a year.

This new report emerges amidst escalating criticism of the US Army’s aviation division, involving a Black Hawk helicopter from the same unit that collided with an American Airlines regional jet on January 29 at Reagan National Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities.

During a three-day hearing last month, NTSB investigator Brian Soper posed the question, “Is there any unit that when you hear it makes you feel uncomfortable?” To which a medical helicopter executive and former Army aviator, Rick Dressler, responded, “Sadly, yes.” Expressing discomfort within the community regarding the 12th Aviation Battalion’s operations.