FAA investigates Army helicopter's role in aborted landings near Reagan Airport

Two commercial flights were forced to abort landings at Washington's Reagan National Airport after a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, reportedly en route to the Pentagon, deviated from its planned route and entered the airport's airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the incident, which comes just three months after a deadly midair collision at the same airport killed 67 people. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and several lawmakers criticized the military's disregard for aviation safety rules, especially in the wake of the January crash, and called for stricter enforcement of airspace protocols. Since the January accident, the FAA has implemented new restrictions on helicopter flights around the airport, but the recent event has raised questions about compliance and oversight. Initial reports suggest the Black Hawk may have been conducting an emergency evacuation rehearsal and took an indirect 'scenic route,' leading to concern about unnecessary military activity in congested civilian airspace. Both Delta Air Lines and Republic Airways, whose flights were involved, stated they are cooperating fully with the investigation, underscoring that passenger safety remains the top priority.