WASHINGTON — Airline pilots flying into Washington, D.C., have raised alarming concerns after nearly a dozen near misses that closely resembled a recent tragic midair collision that claimed the lives of 67 people. One pilot even described Reagan National Airport as “probably the most dangerous” airport in America.
An examination of a federal database indicates there have been numerous reports over the last twenty years regarding close calls and warnings about crowded skies over the nation’s capital. Many pilots have expressed concerns about military helicopters flying too close to passenger aircraft.
Just last May, a military helicopter came alarmingly close—just 300 feet below a commercial airliner—setting off a cockpit alert. The pilot of the airplane reported he was never warned about the helicopter’s proximity by air traffic controllers.
These complaints reflect a growing unease among commercial pilots about the helicopters and the military units that have essential national security roles. It remains unclear whether federal authorities were aware of these worries or took actions to lower the risks. However, this week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted most helicopter flights near the airport, with specific exceptions for emergency and police operations, including Marine One, the president’s helicopter.
This decision follows a tragedy where an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet during a nighttime training exercise, resulting in both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River with no survivors.
Investigators are now looking into whether the helicopter was flying outside its permitted altitude and if there was a shortage of air traffic controllers at the time. A preliminary report from the FAA noted that one controller was managing responsibilities typically handled by two people during busy periods.
In the week leading up to the crash, at least two aircraft had to abort landings after close encounters with helicopters. Some officials are questioning the necessity of military helicopters conducting exercises in the same airspace as commercial flights during peak times.
Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri expressed concern, asking, “Why are military helicopters doing training exercises in the same airspace as commercial airliners—especially at night and during peak congestion? I hope these exercises near Reagan will be paused indefinitely until we get to the bottom of this.”
Numerous military and federal agencies operate helicopters in the airspace surrounding Reagan National Airport, with frequent need for those routes for training and mission execution, according to former and current Army pilots. The Black Hawk involved in the crash was part of Fort Belvoir’s 12th Aviation Battalion, which has crucial and classified missions related to national security.
Brad Bowman, a former Black Hawk pilot, defended the need for military training, stating, “If anyone thinks we can’t have military helicopters flying in Washington, D.C., they don’t understand the security threats we face and the necessary measures to defend our citizens.”
Besides training, the unit is responsible for transporting high-ranking military and government officials, activities carried out daily using multiple aircraft due to the proximity of the Pentagon.
The recent crash and reports of close calls underscore the particular dangers of flying into Reagan National Airport. Described as a “postage stamp” of an airport, it is crammed with air traffic and features water on three sides, leading to constant congestion along the busy Potomac River corridor. While the airport has modern terminals now, it retains the challenges of a facility built long before World War II, when air travel was fundamentally different.
The FAA database reveals that commercial pilots have consistently voiced concerns regarding the traffic situation and the dangers posed by helicopters flying near passenger planes. One pilot remarked in 2015 that Reagan Airport “is probably the most dangerous airport in the United States,” highlighting the pressure controllers face to manage heavy traffic.
Low-flying military helicopters present additional challenges, complicating an already tricky landing and departure process. In another incident in 2015, a commercial pilot narrowly avoided a midair collision with a helicopter after being redirected to land on a secondary runway rather than the main one.
Past experiences indicate that when air traffic controllers struggle to manage the influx of air traffic, complacency within pilot and aviation circles about safety can become commonplace, leading to potential disasters. Given the recent events, there is a pressing need for reassessment and clearer protocols around helicopter operations near airspace crowded with civilian airliners.
