Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy voiced strong criticism of the Department of Defense following an incident where an Army helicopter led to two commercial flights aborting their landings at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. This incident has highlighted a public disagreement between two former Fox News personalities, both of whom now hold Cabinet positions in the Trump administration.
This situation has placed Duffy at odds with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former colleague from their days at Fox News. Despite their shared backgrounds in media, the two have developed a disagreement over military helicopter operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the event took place on May 1, 2025, around 2:30 p.m. Air traffic controllers instructed a Delta Airlines flight from Orlando, Florida, and a Republic Airways flight from Boston, Massachusetts, to perform go-arounds to avoid an Army Black Hawk helicopter.
Duffy, who was confirmed as Transportation Secretary in January, expressed his disapproval of the Pentagon’s actions. “Unacceptable,” Duffy stated on social media, emphasizing that helicopter restrictions around DCA are explicit, and he plans to contact the Department of Defense to investigate the disregard for these rules.
He further stressed the importance of safety, referencing 67 lives recently lost. Duffy was firm in his stance against helicopter flights for VIPs or nonessential training missions in the heavily trafficked DCA airspace.
Duffy’s mention of 67 lost lives pertains to a collision on January 29 between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet in the same airspace. That crash, which occurred shortly after Duffy’s confirmation, resulted in the deaths of all 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight, as well as three Army personnel in the helicopter.
In an interview on Fox News with host Martha MacCallum, Duffy expressed frustration over the lack of information from Hegseth’s department about who was on board the helicopter involved in the recent incident. “So there are way too many VIPs is what they call them at the Pentagon,” Duffy said. “I mean, I look around the White House, there’s a lot of really important people here. They take a Suburban.”
During the same interview, Duffy mentioned his unsuccessful attempts to obtain answers from Hegseth about the incident. The fact that both Cabinet secretaries were once TV hosts on the same network adds a notable dimension to their public disagreement in Washington, D.C.
When MacCallum noted Pentagon sources claiming the helicopter was on a training mission, Duffy responded with skepticism. He remarked that the term “training missions” is often broadly applied, such as when F-16s fly over a football game. He questioned the frequency of these so-called training missions during daylight hours.
An early FAA report shared with Congress members indicated that the Black Hawk helicopter “did not proceed directly” to the Pentagon Heliport but opted for a “scenic route” around the Pentagon instead of proceeding directly from the west to the heliport.
The Army helicopter was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the same unit involved in the January crash. According to U.S. Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib, the UH-60 Blackhawk was conducting flight operations into the Pentagon following established FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control instructions. The helicopter performed a go-around after Pentagon Air Traffic Control informed the crew they lacked landing clearance, leading it to fly over the Pentagon helipad while adhering to all approved flight procedures.
In another interview, Duffy called on Hegseth to explain “with radical transparency” who is authorized to charter a military helicopter from the airport and disrupt plane traffic.
Lawmakers from both parties have echoed Duffy’s concerns. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas noted that just days after military flights resumed in the National Capital Region, the Army is once again jeopardizing public safety.
Cruz emphasized that two recent close calls did not result in significant loss of life, thanks to the quick actions of air traffic controllers and pilots. He argued that the FAA must take immediate action to assert control over the national airspace to prevent the Army from using helicopters as air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, described the incident as outrageous and said it is long overdue for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the FAA to provide the nation’s airspace with the necessary security and safety.
This clash occurs as Duffy faces other challenges at the Department of Transportation, including staffing issues at the Federal Aviation Administration. Duffy announced at a town hall on May 2 that the department will perform reductions in force at the end of May, aligning with the Trump administration’s goal to decrease the federal workforce.
Duffy has consistently emphasized that air safety is his highest priority. Speaking at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, he acknowledged that the Department is tackling numerous priorities, some of which he may not fully agree with, but underscored that the primary mission of the Department is safety.
The Transportation Secretary is advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control system. Last week, he pointed out that signs of strain are becoming increasingly evident. He plans to request tens of billions of dollars to update the U.S. air traffic control system to address deteriorating infrastructure, severe staffing shortages, and outdated technology.
Following the incident, the Army suspended flights into Pentagon airspace pending an internal review.
- The FAA and NTSB have launched formal investigations, with a preliminary report expected soon. Sen. Cruz and others have announced legislative efforts to limit VIP helicopter flights near DCA. While the initial tone was contentious, some sources suggest Duffy and Hegseth are now discussing solutions.