A Pentagon-bound Army helicopter that got less than half a mile from a commercial flight landing at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in May did not have the proper clearance from Pentagon air traffic controllers, a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday. At their closest, the Black Hawk helicopter and landing Delta Air Lines regional jet were only four tenths of a mile apart and separated by just 200 feet of altitude, causing controllers in the airport tower to force the jet to abort its landing.
When the helicopter pilot reported they were confident they could land, the airport controller told the Delta flight from Orlando to go-around and circle the airport. The NTSB report notes the helicopter pilot then attempted to land at the Pentagon helipad without getting clearance from the controller there, and when questioned aborted the landing and circled for another attempt.
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