FAA investigates near-miss collision involving Delta flight and military jets
- A Delta Air Lines flight was preparing to take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it received clearance.
- Air traffic controllers intervened when the Delta flight and military jets were in close proximity to each other, issuing corrective instructions.
- The FAA is now investigating to understand the causes of this incident and prevent future near-misses.
On March 28, 2025, a near-collision incident occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the United States. Delta Air Lines Flight 2983, an Airbus A319 carrying 131 passengers and five crew members, was preparing for takeoff en route to Minneapolis-St. Paul when it received takeoff clearance around 3:15 PM. Simultaneously, four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon jet trainers were approaching the airport for a scheduled flyover of Arlington National Cemetery. Just as the Delta flight took off at 2:55 PM, it received an onboard alert indicating another aircraft was in close proximity, prompting immediate action from air traffic controllers. The controllers intervened, directing both the Delta flight and the military jets to alter their courses to avoid a potential collision, successfully averting disaster. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew during this tense situation. The FAA has launched an investigation to analyze the incident, aiming to determine its causes and prevent similar events from occurring in the future. This inquiry follows an earlier tragedy at the same airport in January, where a mid-air collision resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals, raising serious concerns surrounding air traffic safety in the Washington, D.C. area. The T-38 Talon aircraft, noted for being a high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer, is frequently utilized for training purposes across various agencies, further emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough investigations to maintain safety standards within the aviation community.