Excerpts from various news sources:
The Army on Monday said it has suspended helicopter flights into the Pentagon, following an incident last week involving a military helicopter flying near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that prompted air traffic controllers to divert two commercial flights that had been attempting to land.
Following the incident, the Army said it had conducted the Thursday helicopter flight “in accordance with published FAA flight routes.” Capt. Victoria Goldfedib, U.S. Army spokesperson, said that Pentagon controllers directed the helicopter to perform a go-around, flying over the helipad — which then prompted Reagan National controllers to take action to “ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.”
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that according to initial information, the military helicopter was doing an emergency evacuation rehearsal.
An FAA summary of Thursday’s incident obtained by The Washington Post says the helicopter was not within newly restricted airspace and was following new rules requiring it to broadcast its location using a satellite-based system.
The Army said in a statement late Friday that it was operating in accordance with FAA flight routes. The Army said it “remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures.”
The “scenic” characterization was “inappropriate,” the Army official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. No senior leader was on the helicopter, which carried two aviators and a crew chief, the official said.