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| FAA probes shocking near collision after Black Hawk approaches United plane carrying 168 |
| 2026-03-27 |
| [FoxNews] FAA investigating whether new measures suspending visual separation between planes, helicopters were applied during near-miss incident The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after a close call Tuesday night between a United Airlines passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. United Airlines flight 589 was on its final approach to John Wayne Airport when a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter crossed in front of its flight path at about 8:40 p.m., according to the FAA. A United Airlines spokesperson told Fox News that the Boeing 737-800's pilots were advised by air traffic control to "watch for a military helicopter flying near the airport." "They saw the helicopter and also received a traffic alert, which they responded to by leveling the aircraft," the spokesperson said. "The United flight then landed safely." "Leveling" an aircraft refers to slowing or stopping descent and holding a constant altitude to increase vertical separation. The airline confirmed 162 passengers and six crew members were on board the plane and did not report any injuries. Air traffic control audio obtained by the New York Post indicated the United flight got close enough to the Black Hawk to set off an anti-collision warning, or "resolution advisory," from its traffic avoidance system. The alert suggests a potential crash was only seconds away. "United 589, just want to clarify here, did you get, uh … just a traffic call reference to the helicopter or did they restrict your altitude or anything," the controller reportedly asked the United flight. "We had a resolution advisory for United 589, RA," a pilot replied. "We’re gonna be addressing that because that was not good," the controller said. The U.S. Army did not immediately respond to additional inquiries about the incident from Fox News Digital. |
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