Narrow escape: Delta jet and military plane avert disaster near Washington
A Delta Air Lines passenger plane had to make an evasive manoeuvre after a dangerous approach to a T-38 military jet. The incident occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where another tragedy recently took place.
What you need to know
- The dangerous approach happened on Friday, south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
- The incident involved a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 passenger plane and a US Air Force T-38 military jet.
- The pilots' quick reactions avoided a collision, and the passengers and crew remained safe.
The Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 passenger plane took off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, heading to Minneapolis-St. Paul. On board were 131 passengers and a crew of five.
Shortly after takeoff, the TCAS system in the cockpit alerted the pilots about the approaching T-38 military jet.
Close call
The T-38 military jet that flew near the passenger plane took off and landed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton. The aircraft was moving at over 565 kilometres per hour, further increasing the risk of collision.
The incident triggered an alarm in the passenger plane's cockpit, but tragedy was averted thanks to the pilots' quick reactions.
Aviation authorities will investigate the circumstances of the incident to prevent similar situations in the future. It's not the first time a dangerous aviation incident has occurred in this area. On January 29, a tragedy struck when a regional American Airlines plane collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter. Sixty-seven people died.
