WASHINGTON- Delta Air Lines (DL) Airbus A319 pilots narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force T-38 military aircraft on Friday (March 28, 2025) near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), just miles from the site of January’s deadly crash that claimed 67 lives.
The incident occurred when Delta Flight 2983, an Airbus A319 heading to Minneapolis-St. Paul, departed DCA around 3 p.m. The aircraft’s Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) issued a “resolution advisory,” prompting pilots to take immediate evasive action.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Delta Air Lines, N340NB, Airbus A319-114, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41995963Delta Near Miss with Military Aircraft
Flight recordings captured the Delta pilot confirming the close call with air traffic control at approximately 3:18 p.m. “On that departure… was there an actual aircraft about 500 ft below us as we came off of DCA?” the pilot asked. The controller responded, “Delta 2983, affirmative.”
The military jet involved was operating from Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
Delta Air Lines Flight 2983 was cleared for takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport around 3:15 p.m. local time on Friday, March 28, while four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons were inbound to Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover.”
FAA
Photo: CC-BY-SA 4.0 Matti BlumeThe FAA stated that “The Delta aircraft received an onboard alert that another aircraft was nearby,” adding that “Air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft.” The agency has launched an investigation into the incident.
Delta confirmed the event, emphasizing their commitment to safety. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people. That’s why the flight crew followed procedures to maneuver the aircraft as instructed,” said the spokesperson.
The passenger jet carried 131 pax, two pilots, and three flight attendants. Despite the mid-air emergency, the flight arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as scheduled at 4:36 p.m. local time.
The flight was operated by almost a 23-year-old Airbus A319-114 aircraft, registered as N342NB.
Photo: By Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Bombardier CRJ-700 ‘N724SK’ American Eagle, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66991728American Deadly Crash
Investigation details reveal American Airlines (AA) Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas was approaching landing with 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter practicing emergency evacuation routes. The military aircraft carried three soldiers who were wearing night-vision goggles that limited their peripheral vision during the incident.
Air traffic controllers requested the commercial jet use a shorter runway minutes before landing, prompting the pilots to adjust their approach path. Following the collision, the Federal Aviation Administration permanently banned the specific helicopter route when planes utilize that runway.
Before impact, controllers received an alert about the converging aircraft and asked the helicopter crew if they had visual contact with the jet. The military pilot confirmed visual contact and requested “visual separation” a second time, permitting closer proximity than standard regulations allow when visibility is confirmed.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy revealed that the Black Hawk’s cockpit recorder indicated an incomplete radio transmission likely prevented the crew from hearing crucial instructions to position behind the jet. A pressed microphone key blocked the critical words “pass behind the” in the controller’s final guidance.
Flight data shows the helicopter’s radio altitude registered 278 feet at the time, exceeding its 200-foot restriction for that location. Cockpit conversations minutes before the crash suggest altitude discrepancies, with the pilot reporting 300 feet while the instructor pilot stated 400 feet.
Photo: NTSBThe investigation noted that Black Hawks typically employ two altimeter systems: one using barometric pressure and another using radio frequency signals reflected from the ground. Helicopter pilots generally rely on barometric readings during flight, though the aircraft’s black box records radio altitude measurements.
President Donald Trump quickly attributed blame to the helicopter for flying too high following the incident. He also criticized federal diversity and inclusion initiatives, particularly regarding air traffic controllers, but provided no supporting evidence when questioned by reporters. Days later, he shifted the blame to an “obsolete” air traffic control system.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Delta Pearson Plane Crash Linked to High Descent, Gear Failure: TSB
The post Delta Pilots Avoids Collision with Military Aircraft near Washington appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
