United Airlines jet has close call with US Army helicopter, prompting investigation
The aircraft were only 160 metres apart in the latest near-miss between a passenger jet and a military helicopter
The US Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a close call between a United Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in California, the agency said on Thursday, in the latest incident between a passenger jet and a military aircraft.
The FAA said a United Boeing 737-800 jet on Tuesday at 8.40pm was on final approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California when a Black Hawk crossed in front of the plane. Flightradar24, a flight tracking site, said the aircraft were 160 metres (525 feet) apart vertically.
The FAA is also investigating whether the incident violated its new policy that bars visual separation for helicopters near major airports.
The California Army National Guard confirmed an Army National Guard helicopter, based at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, was returning to Los Alamitos airfield along an established Visual Flight Rules route after a routine training mission, and was in communication with air traffic control.
“A thorough review will be conducted in coordination with the appropriate agencies,” the National Guard said.
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American Airlines jet collides with Black Hawk helicopter near Washington’s Reagan Airport
United said Flight 589, which had departed from San Francisco, had been advised by air traffic control to watch for a military helicopter flying near the airport. After seeing the helicopter and receiving a cockpit alert, pilots responded by levelling the aircraft, later landing safely.