A Delta flight narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force jet during a flyover near Arlington National Cemetery, triggering an FAA investigation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation after a Delta Air Lines passenger aircraft narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force T-38 jet on Friday afternoon near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, as four military jets were en route to a scheduled flyover at Arlington National Cemetery.
Delta Air Lines Flight 2983, an Airbus A319 bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, departed its gate at 2:55 p.m. local time and was cleared for takeoff around 3:15 p.m. According to the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Delta flight experienced what aviation officials classified as a “loss of separation”—a safety term for aircraft breaching minimum safe distance limits.
While climbing out of DCA, Flight 2983’s onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerted the flight crew to the proximity of another aircraft. The alert prompted immediate action, with both the Delta crew and air traffic controllers executing coordinated maneuvers to maintain safe separation from the T-38 jet.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” a Delta spokesperson said. “That’s why the flight crew followed procedures to maneuver the aircraft as instructed.” The airline confirmed that the crew adhered to standard training in responding to the TCAS alert.
The Delta aircraft was carrying two pilots, three flight attendants, and 131 passengers at the time of the incident. There were no injuries reported.
The four T-38 Talon jets involved were part of a planned ceremonial flyover at Arlington National Cemetery, according to U.S. Air Force officials. These military flights often follow specially coordinated flight paths but require exact timing and communication with civilian air traffic control to ensure safety near commercial flight zones.
The NTSB acknowledged the situation and confirmed it is reviewing the details of the “loss of separation” event. The FAA is expected to conduct a full investigation to determine the sequence of events and evaluate whether existing safety protocols were followed.
The incident comes just months after a deadly runway collision at the same airport claimed the lives of 67 individuals, further intensifying scrutiny on airspace and traffic coordination around one of the nation’s busiest and most tightly controlled airports.
As of Saturday, the FAA has not issued any changes to flight operations at DCA but stated that all procedures related to airspace management and coordination with military flights will be reviewed as part of the investigation.
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