Friday, August 22, 2025

Close call with jet: helicopter tried to land, no clearance

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.

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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.

Comments

President Plane Crash narrowly avoids another disaster.

#1 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-08-23 12:59 AM

half a mile, damn thats not close at all.

#2 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-23 01:04 AM

half a mile, damn thats not close at all.

I think the flying around without permission was the actual problem. But then I'm not a pilot on the internet.

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-23 01:13 AM

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 ...

Did not have proper clearance?

Oh, that ain't A Good Thing.

The question becomes ... why?

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-23 01:20 AM

@#3 ... I think the flying around without permission was the actual problem. ...

Agreed.

... But then I'm not a pilot on the internet ...

Or some random alias posing as such?


#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-23 01:22 AM

Seems that this would be a simple problem to solve,just keep civilian aircraft out of military airspace.

#6 | Posted by Charliecharles at 2025-08-23 04:34 PM

How about keeping pedophile fascists out of the White House?

#7 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-08-24 10:33 PM

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