An Army helicopter entered the approach path and triggered a federal investigation before being forced to abort the landing at Reagan National.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy sharply denounced on Friday after an Army Black Hawk helicopter flew dangerously close to two commercial passenger planes at Reagan National Airport (DCA) and forced federal authorities to cancel landings on what they were investigating as a “loss of separation” event.
Duffy, who made airspace safety a key priority during his tenure, warned that safety protocols must be implemented without exception.
“Safety must always come first,” he wrote. “We have lost 67 souls! We don’t ride helicopters for VIPs or get unnecessary training in crowded DCA airspace filled with civilians. Take a taxi or Uber.
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“It’s ridiculous that just three months after the Army’s Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade flew a helicopter too close to a passenger jet again, in its final approach at DCA.” “This is coming less than a week after this brigade resumed flights in the domestic capital region. It’s far past when (defense) Secretary (Pete) Hegses and the FAA give the airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.”
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had words of criticism about the incident.
“Thank God for the decisive response from the air traffic controllers and pilots. Otherwise, these two close calls could have lost hundreds of lives. I think it’s time for the FAA to act quickly and assert national space.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Pentagon, requesting comment on Duffy’s comments.
