Imagine taking off for a routine flight only to have your nerves jangled by an unexpected near-miss with a military jet.
That’s exactly what happened when a Delta flight, carrying 137 passengers, experienced a hair-raising moment just minutes after leaving Reagan National Airport for Minneapolis-St. Paul.
An Unnerving Near-Miss Incident
Shortly after departure, the Delta crew received an alert about a nearby aircraft.
Alarms went off inside the cockpit as a US Air Force T-38 jet flew alarmingly close to the passenger plane.
According to tracking data from FlightRadar 24, the military jet was speeding past at over 350 miles per hour, heightening the sense of urgency and concern.
What Prompted the Close Call?
The FAA later explained that the military jet was part of a group of four performing a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery.
Despite this, the proximity of the jet to the Delta flight triggered an onboard alert, prompting immediate corrective instructions from air traffic control.
In one exchange captured by LiveATC.net, a Delta pilot asked, “Was there an actual aircraft about 500 feet below us?” and received an affirmative response from a controller.
Authorities Launch an Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that they are investigating the near-miss, stating that both the Delta aircraft and the military jet received corrective instructions from air traffic controllers.
Delta released a statement emphasizing that customer safety is their top priority and that they are cooperating with regulators to review the incident thoroughly.
Echoes of Past Accidents
This incident takes on added gravity given the region’s troubled history.
Not long ago, an American Airlines jet collided with an army helicopter near the same area, a tragedy that claimed 67 lives.
More recently, a Delta passenger plane in Toronto also experienced a dramatic crash-landing, with passengers enduring a chaotic evacuation after the aircraft flipped upside down.
Understaffing and Systemic Issues at Reagan National
One key factor under scrutiny is the staffing at Reagan National Airport.
An FAA report revealed that during the time of the incident, a single air traffic controller was monitoring both helicopter and plane traffic—a task normally shared by two controllers.
Although improvements have been noted recently, understaffing has been a longstanding issue at this busy hub.
A Call for Better Safety Measures
Senators have recently demanded answers over why such close encounters between military and passenger flights seem to go unchecked.
A report by the National Transportation Safety Board uncovered thousands of near-miss events over the past few years, raising serious concerns about the safety protocols at major airports like Reagan National.
In these turbulent times, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance required in air traffic control, and the pressing need for robust safety measures to protect both passengers and crew in our skies.