Delta Plane’s Cockpit Alarm: Close Call with Air Force Jet Near Reagan National Airport

A recent incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) raised safety concerns when a Delta Air Lines plane had a near-miss with a U.S. Air Force jet. This close encounter happened on Friday as Delta Flight 2983 was taking off for Minneapolis. The Delta Airbus A319 received alerts about another aircraft nearby, prompting air traffic controllers to communicate corrective actions to avoid a potential accident.

Flight tracking data revealed that the military T-38 jet was flying rapidly at about 800 feet and over 350 miles per hour, shortly after taking off from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Reporting on the situation, the FAA confirmed that the Delta flight was given clearance to take off just minutes before the incident.

This kind of close call is not isolated. A Congressional hearing recently exposed serious concerns about military and commercial aircraft interactions in the area. It highlighted that there have been over 15,000 incidents of close proximity events between commercial flights and helicopters from 2021 to 2024, with several occasions where planes were alarmingly close to each other, separated by only 1,500 feet vertically.

In light of these realities, the FAA is taking stronger steps to enhance safety. They have restricted helicopter routes near DCA and are now enforcing new requirements for military jets, including the use of collision avoidance systems to help prevent such incidents from repeating.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a near-miss has caught public attention. On January 29, another tragic event occurred when an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near the same airport, resulting in 67 fatalities. This history underscores the urgent need for more stringent safety measures to protect passengers.

Morgan Durrant, a Delta spokesperson, emphasized that passenger safety is the airline’s top priority. Following the incident, the crew acted according to established procedures, indicating that their training was put to the test. There were 136 people onboard, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.

As more people share their experiences and safety concerns on social media, it’s clear that incidents like these are on the public’s radar, with many calling for accountability and enhanced safety protocols in air travel. We should all be attentive to these developments, especially given the increased air traffic and military operations around major airports. For more details on aviation safety regulations, visit the FAA’s official site.

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