Introduction
In a stunning revelation, a vital Pentagon hotline meant to ensure flight safety near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has been inoperable since 2022. This failure has heightened concerns over the congested DC airspace and sparked calls for tighter coordination between military and civilian aviation authorities. Below are the five most critical takeaways from this growing aviation safety crisis.
1. Pentagon-FAA Hotline Down Since 2022
The FAA recently testified that it only became aware in May 2025 that a hotline used to coordinate flights between the Pentagon and DC’s air traffic control was not functioning. The line, operated by the Department of Defense, had reportedly stopped working in March 2022 — a fact unknown to FAA personnel until a recent near-miss incident.
2. Near-Miss Prompts Urgent Scrutiny
Two commercial aircraft from Delta and Republic Airways were recently forced into go-arounds due to an approaching US Army helicopter. The incident exposed the coordination breakdown and triggered a new wave of safety concerns. According to NTSB investigations, there had been no working emergency link to warn of military activity in the area.
3. Hotline Failure Revealed After Fatal Crash
The scrutiny follows the tragic 29 January 2025 midair crash between an American Airlines flight and a military Blackhawk helicopter, which killed all 67 on board. The FAA had previously been criticized for failing to act despite 85 close calls near Reagan airport in the preceding three years.
4. Military Flights Paused Again
After the latest near-misses, the 12th Aviation Battalion — responsible for transporting Pentagon officials — paused all training flights out of Fort Belvoir. FAA officials are now considering requiring pre-clearance for all military helicopter flights near high-traffic civilian airports.
5. FAA Under Fire for Oversight Gaps
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy testified that between 2011 and 2024, evasive action alerts occurred about once per week near Reagan. The FAA is now reviewing helicopter operations at airports nationwide, including Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, which has similar airspace risks.
Conclusion
The Pentagon hotline failure is a glaring lapse in communication between military and civilian aviation authorities. With investigations ongoing, the FAA and NTSB are under pressure to ensure such coordination failures never happen again. For a deeper dive into aviation safety, read our guide on common causes of midair collisions.