Washington D.C. Military-Civilian Air Traffic Hotline Inoperative Over Three Years Amid Safety Concerns

A critical hotline between military and civilian air traffic controllers connecting the Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has been inoperable since March 2022, a malfunction that went unnoticed by the Federal Aviation Administration until May 2025. This communication failure may have contributed to a series of near misses, including incidents shortly after the U.S. Army resumed helicopter flights in the area following a deadly mid-air collision in January 2025 that killed 67 people. The FAA suspended military flights to the Pentagon after a May 1 near miss involving a helicopter near the airport and insists the hotline be repaired before flights resume. Despite alternative communication via landlines, the hotline’s absence raises serious safety concerns, prompting the Army to voluntarily suspend helicopter operations and the FAA to consider ordering a formal flight halt. Congressional leaders, including Sen. Ted Cruz, have expressed deep concern and are closely monitoring the situation to ensure all airspace users operate responsibly. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incidents, and the FAA is demanding the hotline’s restoration as a prerequisite for resuming military flight activities around Reagan National Airport.