Robert Besser
04 Apr 2025, 13:57 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A U.S. passenger plane getting ready to take off and a military jet coming in were told to change course to avoid a possible crash, officials said.
Delta Air Lines Flight 2983 was permitted to take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday at about 3:15 p.m. At the same time, four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon jets were approaching, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
The jets were on their way for a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery when the Delta plane got an alert about another aircraft nearby. Air traffic controllers quickly gave new instructions to both planes to prevent a collision. The FAA said it will investigate.
According to a recording of air traffic control communications, Delta's pilot asked, "Was there an actual aircraft about 500 ft below us as we came off of DCA?"
In a recording archived by aviation site LiveATC.net, the controller responded: "Delta 2983, affirmative."
Delta said the Airbus A319 had 131 passengers, two pilots, and three flight attendants. It was flying from Washington, D.C., to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The plane left the gate at 2:55 p.m. and was scheduled to land at 4:36 p.m. local time; however, the pilots followed new instructions from controllers.
No one was hurt.
The T-38 Talon is a high-speed training jet used by the Air Force and other agencies, including NASA.
This incident happened just two months after a deadly midair crash over the same airport. On January 29, an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army helicopter collided, killing 67 people. Both crashed into the Potomac River, making it the worst U.S. plane crash in over 20 years.
Get a daily dose of Central Asia Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Central Asia Times.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: A U.S. passenger plane getting ready to take off and a military jet coming in were told to change course to avoid...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Radio Free Asia, a key voice in press freedom across the continent for nearly three decades, is now warning it may...
BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota: At least one person died when a small plane crashed into a house in a Minneapolis suburb on Saturday, a city...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, President Donald Trump ordered the removal of what he called improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The University of Michigan, known for its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, announced this week that...
AUSTIN, Texas: A federal judge criticized Texas for keeping prisoners in hot prisons without air conditioning but did not order an...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan's leadership was on high alert ahead of the U.S. tariff announcement, with President Lai Ching-te convening...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Radio Free Asia, a key voice in press freedom across the continent for nearly three decades, is now warning it may...
HANOI, Vietnam: Brazil's largest meatpacker JBS is making a bold move into Southeast Asia, betting on Vietnam as a strategic hub for...
TOKYO, Japan: Toyota is showing signs of a steady rebound in its home market, posting a second straight month of rising global output...
ANDONG, South Korea: Wildfires in South Korea have doubled in size in just one day, making them the country's worst fire disaster....
MELBOURNE, Victoria - If a federal election were held today, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) would be re-elected with an increased...