Importance Score: 82 / 100 🟢
Close Call at Reagan National: Delta Flight and US Air Force Jet Near Miss
A Delta Air Lines passenger jet experienced a near mid-air incident with a United States Air Force aircraft close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, raising concerns about aviation safety at the same location where a fatal crash occurred just months prior. The Delta flight, carrying 137 individuals en route to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, received an urgent alert about a nearby plane shortly after takeoff.
Emergency Alarms Triggered in Cockpit
Within moments of departing, alarms sounded in the cockpit of the Delta airliner as a T-38 jet approached at an uncomfortably close distance. The alarming event unfolded just south of the airport, in proximity to the site of a previous aviation disaster in January, where an American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities.
Flight Data Reveals High Speed Approach
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar 24 indicated the Air Force jet passed the Delta aircraft at speeds exceeding 350 mph. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clarified that the military jet was part of a group of four aircraft participating in a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery.
Pilot and Air Traffic Control Communication
Audio recordings of air traffic control communications captured on LiveATC.net revealed a Delta pilot inquiring, “Was there an actual aircraft about 500 feet below us?”. The air traffic controller responded in the affirmative, confirming the proximity.
The Delta flight, with 137 passengers aboard, was headed to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, when the near miss occurred.
The close proximity of the T-38 jet triggered cockpit alarms on the passenger flight.
FAA Launches Investigation into Near Miss
The FAA released a statement on Friday confirming an investigation into the near miss incident. “The Delta aircraft received an onboard alert that another aircraft was nearby. Air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft,” the statement read.
Delta Affirms Commitment to Safety
Delta Air Lines issued a statement emphasizing safety as their top priority. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people. We will cooperate with regulators and aviation stakeholders in any review of this flight,” the airline stated.
Senator Demands Answers from Department of Defense
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota expressed concern on social media, stating: “Unbelievably dangerous and thank God people are safe. My first call to Department of Defense tomorrow: why are your planes flying 500 feet below passenger jets full of Minnesotans headed from DCA to my state.”
Concerns Over Increased Near Miss Incidents
This incident follows a recent Senate hearing addressing the issue of close calls between military and commercial aircraft at the airport. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report highlighted a significant number of near proximity events, revealing 15,214 instances between October 2021 and December 2024 where aircraft received alerts about nearby helicopters.
NTSB Report Details Close Proximity Incidents
The NTSB report further detailed 85 cases of aircraft separated laterally by less than 1,500 feet, and vertically by less than 200 feet, underscoring the potential risks of near misses.
The Delta flight was en route to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.
Wreckage from the January collision between Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in the Potomac River.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport air traffic control tower and American Airlines planes.
Recent Aviation Incidents and Reagan National Staffing Issues
The latest near miss is part of a series of aircraft incidents and close calls occurring since the beginning of the year, including the fatal collision at Reagan National Airport. Investigations into the January crash revealed that a single air traffic controller was managing both helicopter and plane traffic simultaneously at the time of the incident.
Staffing Shortages and Shift Configurations
Standard FAA procedures usually assign these duties to two controllers between 10:00 am and 9:30 pm. Post 9:30 pm, when air traffic decreases, these responsibilities are typically consolidated and handled by one person. However, in the January incident, a supervisor reportedly authorized the consolidation of duties prior to the scheduled time, allowing an air traffic controller to leave work early.
Understaffing Concerns Persist at Reagan National
The FAA report indicated that the staffing arrangement that night was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic”. Reagan National has faced long-term understaffing issues. As of September 2023, there were only 19 fully certified controllers, significantly below the target of 30, according to the Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan submitted to Congress.
Staffing Levels Show Improvement, But Tensions Rise
While staffing levels have reportedly improved, with a source telling news outlets that the control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled, other issues have emerged. Notably, an altercation involving physical violence between two air traffic controllers occurred within the control tower at Reagan National.
Wreckage of Delta flight 4819 at Toronto Pearson International Airport in February 2025.
Physical Altercation in Control Tower Highlights Stress
Sources revealed that a dispute escalated into a physical fight between two on-duty controllers on Thursday. The altercation resulted in blood being splattered on a control console before the colleagues were separated. An insider commented, “I’ve heard of controllers going at it in the parking lot but this was on a whole new level… That facility is out of control. People are cracking because of what happened in January.”
Series of Recent Aviation Accidents
Adding to recent aviation concerns, a twin-engine jet crashed and exploded in Pennsylvania shortly after the January collision, claiming six lives. Furthermore, in February, a Delta passenger plane crash-landed upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport, though all passengers miraculously survived.