A “hotline” between air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Pentagon intended to coordinate aircraft has not worked since March 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration revealed in a congressional hearing Wednesday.

A hotline that directly connects the Pentagon to the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport hasn’t been operational since March 2022, an US Federal Aviation Administration official said.

A critical communication hotline between the Pentagon and air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has been inoperable since March 2022, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy Chief Operating Officer Franklin McIntosh testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.