A Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 passenger plane departing from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and a U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon training jet had a dangerously close encounter in midair. During the incident on Friday, the collision warning systems in the passenger plane’s cockpit were activated.
Alarm Signals Sounded in Delta Cockpit
Delta Flight 2983 took off from Reagan Airport in Washington at around 3:15 PM, en route to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. At the same time, four T-38 Talon jets from the Air Force were flying toward Arlington National Cemetery.
While Delta officials did not disclose the identity of the military jet involved, FlightRadar24 data showed that a T-38 jet, flying at an altitude of 800 feet and at speeds exceeding 350 miles per hour, approached the passenger plane dangerously. The military jet later landed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.
FAA and Congress Respond
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that it received an alert about another aircraft near the Delta plane and that air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft. The FAA announced that an official investigation into the incident had been launched.
Meanwhile, during a Senate hearing, some senators questioned why close encounters between military helicopters and commercial planes were not being adequately controlled. Research by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that between 2021 and 2024, there were over 15,000 near-miss incidents involving commercial planes and helicopters, with some aircraft separated by only 1,500 feet vertically and 200 feet horizontally.
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A Similar Crash on January 29 Was Fatal
The incident brought back memories of a deadly crash in the same region on January 29. An American Airlines passenger plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities. Following that crash, the FAA decided to close certain helicopter routes near DCA Airport and mandated that military aircraft be equipped with specific collision-avoidance systems.
Delta Pilot’s Audio Recording Released
During the incident, the Delta pilot’s communication with air traffic control was recorded by LiveATC.net. The pilot received a Resolution Advisory (RA) alert from the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which provides instructions on how to avoid a potential collision.
Delta Air Lines spokesperson Morgan Durrant commented on the incident, stating, “The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority.” The flight crew reportedly maneuvered according to procedures, preventing a collision risk.
The Delta aircraft carried two pilots, three flight attendants, and 131 passengers.
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