Congressman Cohen Condemns Army Helicopter Interference Near D.C. Airspace

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), Ranking Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, today issued a statement in response to concerning reports about a recent Black Hawk helicopter that led to two commercial flights aborting landings at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport:

“If reports are true that an Army helicopter deviated from its standard flight path, causing two commercial airliners to execute go-arounds, this raises significant questions about interagency coordination and aviation safety.

“We’ve heard troubling indications that conflicting directives may have forced an Army pilot into a dangerous situation, or that a lack of communication between agencies contributed to the airspace conflict. The Department of Defense has reportedly refused to provide details or transparency about the flight, despite outreach from congressional committees.

“The American public deserves to know that our skies are being managed with safety as the top priority.

“The January 29 encounter between American Eagle Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter killed 67 people and resulted in changes intended to prevent such interactions going forward. We can’t permit this dangerous situation to continue. 67 lives lost is outrageous. One would have been too much. Secretary Pete Hegseth needs to get his act together now. The situation is as clear as day.”

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