A Delta Airlines flight prepares to land at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia with the US Capitol Dome in the background on Jan. 24, 2022.
On Friday afternoon, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 narrowly avoided a collision with a U.S. Air Force T-38
During takeoff, the Delta aircraft’s onboard alert system detected the nearby military jets, prompting air traffic controllers to issue immediate corrective instructions to both the commercial and military pilots. The Delta flight crew complied, altering their course as directed, and no injuries were reported.
This near-miss incident has raised concerns among officials. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota described the event as “unbelievably dangerous” and expressed gratitude that no harm occurred. She intends to question the Department of Defense regarding the proximity of military flights to commercial airspace.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This event occurred nearly two months after a tragic mid-air collision near the same airport, where an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided, resulting in 67 fatalities. The recent close call underscores ongoing concerns about air traffic safety in the congested Washington D.C. airspace.