Pentagon suspends navy helicopter flight operations close to DCA following near-misses

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is suspending all of its helicopters from flying close to Reagan Nationwide Airport. It comes after a latest security incident the place an Military helicopter triggered two industrial flights to abort their landings.

What we all know:

A particular unit of Military helicopters is pausing its flight operations close to or round Reagan Nationwide Airport.

Final week, two industrial planes that had been on the brink of land at DCA had been diverted by air site visitors controllers after they observed a military helicopter taking a unique route.

Based on the Military, the Blackhawk on its approach to the Pentagon was “in accordance with printed FAA flight routes and DCA Air Site visitors Management” throughout this incident. However in an effort to be certain that the airspace was secure, the controllers requested the 2 industrial flights to go round.

The unit suspending its operations is the twelfth Aviation Battalion. These helicopters normally transport political VIPs and conduct coaching.

A Blackhawk from that very same battalion was concerned within the tragic January crash that killed 67 individuals.

Native perspective:

Army aviation skilled Philip Mann believes that is the appropriate name.

“It displays properly on them to mainly inform the VIPs that they might usually haul round, hey take an Uber if it’s essential and are prepared to close down the operations to allow them to check out no matter it’s. Evidently they’re recognizing they’ve received some potential for a really systemic drawback which may be extra wide-reaching than they initially thought,” Mann mentioned. 

In the intervening time, the FAA has restricted all non-essential helicopter operations round DCA, aside from pressing missions, similar to lifesaving medical, precedence legislation enforcement or Presidential transport.

Throughout final week’s incident, the Military says the Blackhawk was conducting a coaching with no VIPs on board. Consultants say we might quickly see even tighter restrictions.

“I believe we’re going to see a transparent demarcation between these actual military-only missions and their regular standard flights and for that standard flight, they’ll should comply like all the opposite industrial site visitors. They’re going to should fly like there are working members of the airspace like everybody else with the appropriate tools following the identical procedures, all that sort of stuff,” Mann mentioned. 

What’s subsequent:

The incident stays below investigation and the Military says it stays dedicated to aviation security and conducts flight operations inside all accepted tips and procedures.

Full assertion:

Beneath is the complete assertion offered by an Military spokesperson.

“twelfth Aviation Battalion has suspended rotary wing flight operations into the Pentagon pending the result of an inner inquiry.

Whereas conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with printed FAA flight routes and DCA Air Site visitors Management, a UH-60 Blackhawk initiated a “go-around” after Pentagon Air Site visitors Management informed them they weren’t cleared to land, overflying the Pentagon helipad whereas sustaining all accepted flight procedures.  In consequence, DCA Air Site visitors Management issued a “go-around” to 2 civil fastened wing plane to make sure the suitable deconfliction of airspace.  The incident is at the moment below investigation. America Military stays dedicated to aviation security and conducts flight operations inside all accepted tips and procedures.”