Monday 9/8/25 ~1102Z (7:02am Local) - RPA4528 on short final for Rwy 33 instructed to go-around after asking Tower about a vehicle on the runway...
- OPS1 had been cleared to proceed with inspection of Rwy 15 and to hold at Kilo due to traffic on the intersecting Rwy 1
- Approx 1.5 mins later, RPA4528, initially cleared for Rwy 1, was asked by Tower if able Rwy 33, they affirmed and were cleared to land Rwy 33; the go-around was approx 3 mins later
- After OPS1 was told to hold at Kilo there were 2 arrivals and 4 departures on Rwy 1, the departures cleared in 2 pairs following visually - i.e. Rwy 1 was very busy
- Could not find any other further instructions to OPS1 during this time. Tower stated they had vacated the runway during the go-around (presumably in response to seeing the arrival, and/or hearing the comms on Tower frequency).
Clip includes additional unrelated go-around for JIA5101 at ~1105Z For Rwy 1, due to tight spacing and slow roll by JIA5066 given an immediate departure (not unusual).
Attached edited combination of TWR and Heli (for clearer controller audio in most part), left real-time for full context from 10:57.30Z thru 11:05.45Z
The go-around interaction is about 5min into the clip.
Timeline (Z):
10:57.50 OPS1 told to proceed with inspection on Rwy 15 and hold short of Kilo
10:58.30 RPA4528 checks in with Tower and initially cleared to land Rwy 1
10:59.15 RPA4528 asked if able Rwy 33, affirms; cleared to land Rwy 33
11:02.25 RPA4528 - "Tower is there a vehicle on 33"
11:02.28 Tower - "Affirmative, err yeah go-around, turn left heading 250"
11:02.39 Tower - "He's off now but yeah left 250 climb maintain 3000"
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Media/FAA:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/09/09/dca-aborted-landing-maintenance-runway/https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/accident_incidentsSeptember 8, 2025
Commercial Aviation / Arlington, Virginia
An air traffic controller instructed Republic Airways Flight 4528 to perform a go-around at Reagan Washington National Airport because maintenance crews were inspecting the runway.
The FAA is investigating the event that occurred around 7:05 a.m. local time on Monday, Sept. 8.
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