A terrifying near-miss between a Delta Air Lines plane and a US Air Force jet has raised serious concerns about aviation safety. The close call, which occurred near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, saw the two aircraft coming within just 500 feet of each other, putting 137 passengers aboard the commercial airline in immediate danger.
This incident is part of a worrying trend of aviation accidents involving U.S. aircraft, with over 150 plane and helicopter accidents reported this year alone. Tragically, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent U.S. history took place earlier this year, when a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines-owned plane, resulting in the death of all 67 people involved. The accident, which occurred on January 29, marked the beginning of a string of high-profile aviation incidents, bringing the industry under intense scrutiny.
A Close Call for Delta Airlines
The near-collision involved a Delta Air Lines flight that had just taken off from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Minnesota. As the plane ascended, alarms suddenly went off in the cockpit, alerting the crew to the presence of another aircraft dangerously close to their flight path. According to the horrifying transcript of the incident, the Delta pilot immediately asked, “Was there an actual aircraft about 500 feet below us?” The air traffic controller confirmed, “Affirmative.”
At this point, the commercial Delta plane, which had taken off just minutes earlier, was a mere 500 feet away from a military jet traveling at speeds of over 350 miles per hour. The jet, which was part of a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery, had narrowly passed the Delta aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued corrective instructions to both planes to prevent a potential disaster.
The commercial Delta plane was just 500ft away from colliding with a military jet (Air Nav Radar)
The Immediate Aftermath
The Delta flight narrowly avoided a catastrophic collision, and thankfully, no lives were lost. However, the incident highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the safety of U.S. airspace, particularly when military jets are flying near commercial airliners. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar expressed her disbelief on Twitter, calling the incident “unbelievably dangerous” and vowing to follow up with the Department of Defense. She wrote, “Why are your planes flying 500 feet below passenger jets full of Minnesotans headed from DCA to my state?”
The FAA acknowledged the incident and assured the public that corrective actions had been taken. “The Delta aircraft received an onboard alert that another aircraft was nearby. Air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft,” the FAA said in a statement.
A Series of Aviation Accidents in 2023
This incident is part of a broader trend of aviation accidents in the U.S. this year. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 153 U.S. civil aviation accidents have occurred so far in 2023, with 23 of those incidents resulting in fatalities. Just two days after the deadly crash in Washington DC, a medical jet crashed in Philadelphia, killing all six people onboard. Then, on February 6, a plane with 10 passengers disappeared over Alaska, with wreckage later discovered and all passengers confirmed dead.
The aviation industry has faced heightened scrutiny following these events, and questions are being raised about safety protocols, particularly in military and civilian airspace management. For example, a private plane owned by rock musician Vince Neil crashed into another plane at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona on February 10, though Neil was not on board.
An American Airlines-owned plane collided with a military chopper in Washington DC earlier this year (Al Drago/Getty Images)
Safety Measures and Industry Scrutiny
While aviation safety has always been a priority, incidents like the Delta and military jet near-miss emphasize the need for constant vigilance and improvements in air traffic control systems. The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the causes of these incidents and working to implement measures to reduce the risk of future accidents.
One thing is clear: the aviation industry must prioritize safety and ensure that airspace management protocols are robust enough to handle the increasing traffic in both civilian and military sectors. As aviation technology advances, so must the systems that support it, ensuring that incidents like the near-collision at Reagan National Airport become a thing of the past.
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