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2mo ago

FAA Investigates False Midair Collision Alerts at Reagan National Airport

Multiple flights received erroneous warnings of nearby aircraft, prompting go-arounds and raising safety concerns near the site of a recent deadly crash.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - JANUARY 31: Reagan National Airport is visible at dawn following the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter earlier this week in the Potomac River, January 31, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Flights have resumed in and out of Reagan National Airport after an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to the airport. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport seen the morning after an American Airlines jet with 64 people aboard collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Arlington, VA.. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY via Imagn Images
A general view of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating false collision alerts received by at least 12 flights landing at Reagan National Airport on Saturday, March 1.
  • Pilots reported Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) warnings of nearby aircraft, though no other planes were present in the area, according to FAA statements and air traffic control audio.
  • Three flights aborted landings and performed go-arounds due to the alerts, with pilots describing phantom objects as close as 600 feet.
  • The incidents occurred near the site of a January 29 collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet, which killed 67 people.
  • Experts noted the unusual frequency and concentration of false TCAS alerts, with the FAA working to determine the cause of the malfunction.