The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting an investigation following a series of apparent false alerts received by aircraft approaching Washington Reagan National Airport on Saturday. Several airliners reportedly experienced unexpected alarms from their onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS). The situation prompted air traffic controllers to communicate with incoming flights about the anomalies, according to audio records.
American Eagle flight 4469, operated by Republic Airways, received a TCAS alert while descending between 1,200 and 1,000 feet. This prompted the pilots to take evasive actions, although no other aircraft were visible. Upon landing, the pilots confirmed to air traffic controllers that the TCAS showed an “unknown target descending rapidly.”
This issue was not isolated to a single flight. At least four other American Eagle flights reported similar alerts during their final approaches. These flights included American Eagle 4538 from New York City, American Eagle 5197 from Minneapolis, American Eagle 5098 from Des Moines, and Flight 5802 from Nashville. In each case, crews indicated the system showed potential hazards, yet no physical objects were detected.
While TCAS nuisance alerts are known to occur, it is rare for multiple aircraft in one location to experience them.
The FAA confirmed that various incoming crews encountered these alerts despite no nearby aircraft, with some pilots opting for go-arounds as a precaution. The exact number of affected flights remains undetermined.
This investigation comes amid increased scrutiny at Reagan National Airport, particularly in the aftermath of January’s fatal crash involving a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger aircraft. Earlier this year, the NTSB began examining the TCAS from that incident to glean insights into potential system malfunctions.
show less
