{"id":2434650,"date":"2025-05-14T14:29:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T18:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/critical-pentagon-washington-dc-airport-hotline-cut-off-since-2022\/"},"modified":"2025-05-14T14:31:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T18:31:10","slug":"critical-pentagon-washington-dc-airport-hotline-cut-off-since-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/critical-pentagon-washington-dc-airport-hotline-cut-off-since-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Critical Pentagon-Washington DC Airport hotline cut off since 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcritical-pentagon-washington-dc-airport-hotline-cut-off-since-2022%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2434650&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A critical dialogue hotline between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/search-and-rescue-teams-at-site-of-indonesian-plane-crash\/\" title=\"Search and rescue teams at site of Indonesian plane crash\">air traffic controllers<\/a> at Reagan National Airport and the Pentagon has been non-operational since March 2022, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Governance (FAA). This issue came to light when air traffic controllers had to redirect two planes due to an unannounced Army helicopter entering the Pentagon&#8217;s airspace. During a recent Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Franklin McIntosh, Deputy FAA Air Traffic Control chief, revealed that controllers have been relying on landline communications to coordinate in the absence of the hotline. He emphasized the need for the hotline to be fixed before resuming operations at the Pentagon, even though he could not provide a timeline for when it would be restored. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-emerges-as-dividing-line-for-dems-in-pennsylvania-senate-primary\/\" title=\"Biden Emerges as Dividing Line for Dems in Pennsylvania Senate Primary\">incident raised concerns<\/a> about air traffic safety, especially following a previous fatal collision between a helicopter and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-russia-aiming-to-fly-solo-without-airbus-and-boeing\/\" title=\"Exclusive...Russia aiming to fly solo without Airbus and Boeing\">regional jet<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Critical hotline between Pentagon and Reagan Washington National Airport cut off since 2022<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2121543\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >critical hotline linking air traffic controllers<\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flyreagan.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Reagan National Airport<\/a> with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pentagon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Pentagon<\/a> has been out of service since March 2022, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-aviation-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">the Federal Aviation Administration<\/a> confirmed on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Deputy FAA Air Traffic Control chief <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/about\/office_org\/headquarters_offices\/ato\/leadership\/mcintosh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Franklin McIntosh\">Franklin McIntosh<\/a> told senators at a Commerce Committee hearing that the problem was only uncovered after air traffic controllers at Reagan National were forced to redirect two passenger planes when an unannounced Army helicopter neared the Pentagon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3410397\/taliban-dialogue-congress-worries-afghanistan-tps-expires\/\">Taliban opens &#8216;dialogue&#8217; as Congress worries about Afghans sent back after their TPS expires<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3410686\/salt-republicans-caucus-johnson-tax-deal-blue-state-republicans\/\">SALT caucus vs. Speaker: Johnson eyes weekend to strike tax deal with blue state Republicans<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3410614\/noem-refuses-answer-picture-kilmar-abrego-garcia-doctored\/\">Noem refuses to answer whether picture of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was doctored<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We became aware after that event, and now that we became aware of that event, we&rsquo;re insisting upon that line to be fixed before we resume any operations out of the Pentagon,&rdquo; McIntosh said in response to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the chairman of the committee.<\/p>\n<p>McIntosh could not offer a timeline for when the hotline would be operational, only saying he expects &ldquo;the DOD to expedite&rdquo; the process. When Cruz asked how communication occurred in the absence of the hotline, McIntosh said controllers used standard landline calls from the Pentagon helipad to tower operations to coordinate movements. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We still have landline abilities. We can make phone calls from the helipad to the operation, where the supervisor, or even the command or the controller in charge, can answer so we&rsquo;re aware of the activity, and if there was a departure clearance needed, we&rsquo;d be able to relay it via that mechanism,&rdquo; McIntosh said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Let me say, the developments of DCA and its airspace are extremely concerning. And together with Senators Cantwell, Duckworth, and Moran, this committee remains laser focused on monitoring a safe return to operations at DCA and making sure all users in the airspace are operating responsibly,&rdquo; Cruz responded.<\/p>\n<p>The FAA said Friday that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chilling-audio-reveals-air-traffic-controls-final-instructions-to-doomed-black-hawk-panicked-aftermath\/\" title=\"Chilling Audio Reveals Air Traffic Control&#039;s Final Instructions to Doomed Black Hawk, Panicked Aftermath\">air traffic controllers instructed<\/a> two incoming flights, Delta Air Lines Flight 1671 from Orlando and Republic Airways Flight 5825 from Boston, to perform a &ldquo;go-around&rdquo; around 2:30 p.m. after a Black Hawk helicopter en route to the Pentagon entered their flight path. A go-around is a standard safety maneuver in which a plane aborts its landing and circles before making another approach.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The incident occurred just one week after an Army unit based in Virginia announced it was restarting operations in the Washington, D.C. area, following a deadly Jan. 29 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3307581\/potomac-plane-crash-dca-expansion-warnings-ignored-lawmakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">collision<\/a> between one of its helicopters and a regional jet operated by American Airlines that killed 67 people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3407176\/newark-airport-united-airlines-demands-faa-slot-controls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"NEWARK AIRPORT COMMUNICATIONS MELTDOWN RENEWS DEMANDS FOR FAA SLOT CONTROLS\">NEWARK AIRPORT COMMUNICATIONS MELTDOWN RENEWS DEMANDS FOR FAA SLOT CONTROLS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Following the incident, McIntosh said officials considered revoking a special agreement that lets the military operate in Washington airspace without first getting FAA approval. But before the agency acted, the Virginia-based Army unit voluntarily halted its Pentagon-bound helicopter flights to conduct an internal review.<\/p>\n<p>In March, the FAA permanently shut down a major flight route and restricted access to two smaller runways at the airport whenever helicopters on urgent missions are active nearby.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2121543\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2121543\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hotline connecting Pentagon and Reagan Airport down since 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2434651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AP25092624627436-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3990,15554,55239,3761,33224],"class_list":["post-2434650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-3990","tag-communication","tag-hotline-2","tag-pentagon","tag-washington-dc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/AP25092624627436-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2434650"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2434654,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434650\/revisions\/2434654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2434651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2434650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2434650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2434650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}