A slew of false Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerts near Reagan National Airport (KDCA) in Washington, D.C., last month has garnered attention from lawmakers. Last week, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blamed these March 1 alerts on the “improper” testing of counter-drone technology by the Navy and Secret Service.
Several flights reported these alerts while on the River Visual for Runway 19. One Republic Airways crew noted an onboard alert at roughly 1,200 feet, adding that “there was something diving straight onto us,” per air traffic control audio recordings. Another PSA crew said it received two traffic advisories, warning of a non-imminent collision.
- READ MORE: Cruz Reveals Cause of False Traffic Alerts
These alerts prompted pilots to maneuver aircraft away from the reported traffic conflict, which was never there. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
Secret Service Not Involved
These phantom alerts came just over a month after January’s deadly midair collision between a CRJ-700 and Black Hawk helicopter at the D.C. airport. All 67 individuals on both aircraft were killed.
“ I think we were all alarmed that just a few weeks after the tragedy, commercial pilots were being told they were at imminent risk of a deadly midair collision,” Cruz said during a recent Senate hearing. “It’s now come to my attention that these warnings were caused by the Secret Service and the U.S. Navy and improperly testing counter-drone technology at DCA.”
But the Secret Service says it wasn’t involved, the agency told FLYING in a statement last week.
“The U.S. Secret Service did not conduct any drone system testing in the National Capital Region on March 1, 2025. The agency has been coordinating with the FAA to ensure our systems do not interfere with FAA frequencies or commercial air traffic operations,” an agency spokesperson stated. “Additionally, the Secret Service respects the oversight conducted by Senator Cruz and has reached out to his office to offer a briefing on our airspace operations.”
The U.S. Navy did not respond to FLYING’s request for comment.
Last week, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and Air Force T-38 jets were involved in another close call near the airport. While departing, the A319 crew received a Resolution Advisory (RA) for the T-38s, which were performing a flyby at Arlington Cemetery.
“Was there an actual aircraft about 500 feet below us?” the Delta crew asked air traffic control after responding to the RA.
