Near miss: Delta and military jet avert disaster near Washington
A Delta Air Lines passenger plane had to execute an evasive manoeuvre following a hazardous approach to a T-38 military jet. The incident happened near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where another tragedy occurred not long ago.
What do you need to know?
- The dangerous approach occurred 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.
- Thanks to the pilots' swift response, a collision was avoided, ensuring the safety of the passengers and crew.
The Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 passenger plane departed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul, carrying 131 passengers and a crew of five.
Shortly after takeoff, the TCAS system in the cockpit warned the pilots about the approaching T-38 military jet.
Close call
The T-38 military jet that flew near the passenger plane had taken off and landed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton. The aircraft travelled over 560 kilometres per hour, significantly increasing the risk of a collision.
The situation triggered an alarm in the passenger plane's cockpit, but a tragedy was averted thanks to the pilots' prompt reaction.
Aviation authorities will investigate the circumstances of the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This is not the first time a dangerous aviation event has occurred in this region. On 29 January, a tragedy unfolded when a regional American Airlines plane collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities.
