Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has openly criticized the Department of Defense following an incident where an Army helicopter forced two commercial flights to abort their landings at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The episode has led to a rare public dispute between two former Fox News personalities who are now part of President Trump’s Cabinet.
This incident has positioned Duffy against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with whom he shared time at Fox News. Both transitioned from television to government roles, yet their shared history hasn’t prevented tensions concerning military helicopter operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the incident happened on May 1, 2025, around 2:30 p.m. Air traffic controllers directed 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 became Transportation Secretary in January, voiced strong criticism of the Pentagon. “Unacceptable,” Duffy stated on social media. He emphasized that helicopter restrictions around DCA are well-defined and expressed his intent to contact the Department of Defense to understand why the rules were ignored.
He stressed that safety is paramount, citing the recent loss of 67 lives. Duffy insisted that there should be no more helicopter flights for VIPs or nonessential training missions in the densely populated DCA airspace.
His reference to 67 lost lives pertains to the January 29 collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet in the same airspace. That crash, occurring shortly after Duffy’s confirmation, resulted in the deaths of all 60 passengers and four crew members on the American Airlines flight, as well as three Army personnel in the helicopter.
In a Fox News interview with host Martha MacCallum, Duffy expressed frustration over the lack of information from Hegseth’s department about the helicopter involved in the recent incident. “So there are way too many VIPs is what they call them at the Pentagon,” Duffy remarked. “I mean, I look around the White House, there’s a lot of really important people here. They take a Suburban.”
During the interview, Duffy highlighted his attempts to get answers from Hegseth about the event, making the public disagreement between the two former TV hosts notable in Washington.
When MacCallum noted Pentagon claims that the helicopter was on a training mission, Duffy responded skeptically, pointing out that “training missions” are often used to classify events like F-16 flyovers at football games. He questioned the frequency of these so-called training missions during daytime hours.
An early FAA report shared with Congress indicated that the Black Hawk helicopter “did not proceed directly” to the Pentagon Heliport but instead took a circuitous route around the Pentagon.
The Army helicopter was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the same unit involved in the January crash. U.S. Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib stated the UH-60 Blackhawk was conducting flight operations into the Pentagon following FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control instructions. The aircraft performed a go-around after Pentagon Air Traffic Control advised the crew they lacked clearance to land, leading the helicopter to fly over the Pentagon helipad while complying with approved flight procedures.
In another interview, Duffy called on Hegseth to explain “with radical transparency” who could charter a military helicopter from the airport and disrupt airplane 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 again risking public safety.
Cruz emphasized that recent close calls did not result in tragic outcomes due to the swift actions of air traffic controllers and pilots. He argued that the FAA must take quick action to assert control over airspace to prevent the Army from using aircraft 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 unacceptable and stated that it is overdue for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the FAA to provide the necessary level of security and safety in the nation’s airspace.
The dispute arises as Duffy confronts other challenges at the Department of Transportation, including staffing issues at the FAA. Duffy announced at a town hall on May 2 that the department will make reductions in force at the end of May as part of the Trump administration’s objective to decrease the federal workforce.
Duffy has consistently stated that air safety is his top priority. Speaking at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, he acknowledged the Department’s numerous priorities—some of which he may not agree with—but emphasized that the sole mission of the Department is safety.
The Transportation Secretary is advocating for a significant overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control system. Last week, he noted that signs of strain are increasingly evident. He plans to request tens of billions of dollars to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system to address aging infrastructure, severe staffing shortages, and outdated technology.
Following the incident, the Army has 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 curtail VIP helicopter flights near DCA. Although the initial tone was hostile, some sources suggest Duffy and Hegseth are now discussing solutions.
