Federal aviation officials are currently investigating a close call that occurred between a Delta Air Lines passenger plane and an Air Force jet outside Washington, D.C. This alarming incident triggered a collision warning along with corrective instructions from air traffic controllers. The event took place nearly two months after a tragic collision at the same airport between an airliner and an Army helicopter, raising serious concerns about aviation safety.
The latest incident, which transpired on Friday afternoon, involved four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon jets that were en route to Arlington National Cemetery in northern Virginia for a scheduled flyover, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The T-38 Talon is a two-seat supersonic jet primarily used for pilot training by the Air Force.
At approximately 3:15 p.m. local time, Delta Flight 2983, bound for Minneapolis, took off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Shortly thereafter, an alert sounded in the cockpit, indicating that another aircraft was in the vicinity. In response, air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both the Delta flight and the Air Force jet to ensure safety.
The FAA confirmed that they will be conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. Delta Air Lines stated that its flight crew adhered to all instructions provided by the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). The airline emphasized its commitment to passenger safety, stating, "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew." Delta also pledged to cooperate fully with the regulators throughout the review process.
As of now, the Air Force has not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident. This close call comes on the heels of a tragic accident that occurred nearly two months prior, when an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter outside DCA airport, resulting in the loss of 67 lives.
In light of the previous incident, the FAA announced significant restrictions on helicopter flights near the airport to enhance safety protocols. Earlier this month, during a news conference, National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Jennifer Homendy labeled the flight patterns around DCA as an "intolerable risk." She pointed out the proximity of helicopters and commercial planes operating within an already congested airspace.
The NTSB's preliminary report on the deadly helicopter crash revealed that between October 2021 and December 2024, there were over 15,000 instances of close calls between commercial airplanes and helicopters. Specifically, it noted 85 recorded incidents where aircraft were separated by less than 1,500 feet laterally and under 200 feet vertically. These statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.
Tracking data from FlightRadar24 on Friday indicated that both the Delta plane and the military aircraft were briefly flying over the same area of the Potomac River near Alexandria's Potomac Yard. Onboard the Delta Airbus A319 were two pilots, three flight attendants, and 131 passengers. According to CNN, which first reported the incident, one of the Delta pilots communicated with air traffic controllers, inquiring, "On that departure … was there an actual aircraft about 500 ft below us as we came off of DCA?"
In response to the incident, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota expressed her concerns on Friday night, describing the situation as "unbelievably dangerous." She announced her intention to reach out to the Pentagon to discuss the implications of this close encounter and the broader issues surrounding aviation safety.
As investigations continue, the aviation community and the public await further updates on the safety measures that will be implemented to prevent future incidents like this from occurring.
