FAA to Investigate Incident Between Delta Flight and U.S. Air Force Aircraft
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it will investigate an incident that occurred on Friday between a Delta Air Lines flight and a U.S. Air Force aircraft near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Reuters reported. This event adds to a series of recent occurrences that have raised concerns about aviation safety in the country.
Delta Flight 2389, operated by an Airbus A319 bound for Minneapolis, was cleared for takeoff at 3:15 p.m. local time. Simultaneously, four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon aircraft were heading to Arlington National Cemetery to perform a commemorative flyover.
The Airbus’s onboard collision alert system detected the presence of another aircraft in close proximity, prompting air traffic controllers to issue corrective instructions to both the commercial flight and the military jets.
CNN, citing audio captured by LiveATC.net, reported that the Delta pilot asked controllers if there was “an actual aircraft about 500 feet below us” as the commercial jet departed the airport. The controller responded, “Affirmative.”
Reactions and Measures
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota described the incident as “incredibly dangerous” and expressed concern about military aircraft operating just 500 feet (150 meters) away from a passenger plane full of civilians.
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“Thank God everyone is safe. My first call tomorrow will be to the Department of Defense to ask why their aircraft were flying so close to a passenger flight filled with Minnesotans,” Klobuchar stated.
The Pentagon acknowledged reports of the incident but did not provide immediate comments.
Delta confirmed that its aircraft carried five crew members and 131 passengers. The airline stated that “the flight crew followed established procedures to maneuver the aircraft as instructed” and reiterated its commitment to cooperating with regulators in reviewing the incident.
A Troubling Pattern
This incident occurs amid growing concerns about aviation safety in the U.S. In January, a mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport resulted in 67 fatalities, marking the first fatal commercial airline accident in the country in 16 years.
Following that incident, the FAA implemented permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations in the airport area and banned the simultaneous flight of helicopters and passenger aircraft in the zone.
Additionally, last month, a Southwest Airlines plane came within 200 feet of a private jet before aborting its landing at Chicago Midway Airport. On March 1, more than a dozen flights on final approach to Reagan Airport received false cockpit collision alerts, forcing at least six to abort their landings. Subsequent investigations determined the issue stemmed from government testing of anti-drone technology.
The FAA will continue its investigation to clarify what happened and assess potential additional measures to prevent future incidents. Meanwhile, the increasing frequency of these events continues to test the responsiveness of air traffic control agencies and the safety of passengers in U.S. airspace.
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