FAA Investigates Multiple Close Calls at Reagan National Airport

Military Jet Close Call

• ✈️ On Friday, Delta flight 2983 received a collision avoidance alert after taking off from Reagan National Airport.
• ⚠️ The alert was triggered by four Air Force T38 jets flying a flyover at approximately 350 mph, coming within 275 ft vertically and 6,000 ft horizontally of the airliner.
• 🚨 This incident is under investigation by the FAA, highlighting a conflict between military and civilian aircraft.

FAA Administrator's Testimony

• 🗣️ Just a day prior, the acting FAA administrator stated that flying is safe, but acknowledged numerous close calls at DCA over 13 years, including between airliners and helicopters, often military.
• 📉 The administrator admitted that a previous mid-air collision in January, which killed 67 people, indicated that dangers were missed.
• ⚖️ Both the FAA and the NTSB chair suggested shared responsibility for the DCA crash, with the NTSB chair also placing blame on the Army.

Kite Encounter During Landing

• 🪁 On Saturday, a United flight reported a potential collision with a kite while landing at DCA.
• ✅ The Boeing 737 landed safely and sustained no damage from the encounter.